Head Chef - Contemporary Italian Restaurant | Dalston | £50,000+

COREcruitment; City Of London; On-site; GBP 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading restaurant recruitment agency is seeking a creative and skilled Head Chef for a brand-new Italian bistro in Dalston. This is an opportunity to build a team and menu from the ground up, working with a Michelin-starred consultant and maintaining excellent work-life balance. The ideal candidate has a passion for modern Italian cuisine and leadership skills. A guaranteed package of £50,000 is offered, alongside a path for career development.

Benefits

Guaranteed package of £50,000

Founding role to shape culinary identity

Excellent work-life balance

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or ambitious Sous Chef ready to step up.
• Strong skills in modern Italian cuisine, particularly fresh pasta.
• High standards and excellent organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Full responsibility for the kitchen, including team management and cost control.
• Execute and evolve the core menu while maintaining high standards.
• Develop weekly specials to showcase market-fresh ingredients.

Skills

Modern Italian cuisine

Leadership

Organizational skills

Job description

Lead the launch of a unique, contemporary Italian neighbourhood bistro with a speakeasy twist.

We are seeking a creative and skilled Head Chef to spearhead the kitchen of a brand-new, exciting restaurant concept in Dalston. This is a rare opportunity to build a team and menu from the ground up for a venue set to become a local destination.

The Restaurant & Concept:

• Contemporary Italian cuisine with a focus on elevated classics and fresh pasta.
• Core menu developed with a Michelin-starred consultant, with your input on future menus.
• Intimate 30-cover dining room with a secret, speakeasy bar.
• Open Wednesday to Sunday, evenings only (5 pm - 11 pm), excellent work-life balance.
• Brand new, fully installed kitchen with a semi-open pass.

The Head Chef Role:

• Full responsibility for the kitchen, including team management, stock, and cost control.
• Execute and eventually evolve the core menu, maintaining the highest standards.
• Lead a small, tight-knit brigade (Head Chef and Chef de Partie to start).
• Develop weekly specials to showcase market-fresh ingredients.

The Ideal Head Chef:

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or ambitious Sous Chef ready to step up.
• A genuine passion for and strong skills in modern Italian cuisine, particularly fresh pasta.
• A creative, hands-on leader who thrives in a launch environment.
• High standards, excellent organisational skills, and calm demeanour.

Ambitious to grow with the business and make your mark on the Dalston food scene.?

Why Apply?

• A guaranteed package of £50,000 (£35k basic salary + £15k tronc).
• Be the founding Head Chef and shape the culinary identity of a unique venue.
• Work with a premium, core menu created by a Michelin-starred consultant.
• Excellent work-life balance with a two-day weekend (Monday & Tuesday closed).
• Clear path for career and creative development as the business grows.

Sound like you? APPLY TODAY

Send your CV to Olly at COREcruitment dot com