Bistro Restaurant Manager

Yora Nordic Spa; Portland (CT); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

Employee wellness privileges

Bistro and retail discounts

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

Yora Nordic Spa in Connecticut is seeking a Bistro Restaurant Manager to join its founding leadership team. You will recruit, onboard and lead the Front of House to welcome the first Bistro guests in November 2026 and collaborate with the Food & Beverage Manager and Kitchen Manager.

This role focuses on thoughtful hospitality, managing seating, labor, and service pace, while maintaining high guest satisfaction, effective cost control and smooth pre-opening execution.

Qualifications

• Three to five years of progressive restaurant leadership experience in hospitality, premium casual dining, boutique hotels, resorts or wellness environments.
• Demonstrated success leading high-volume restaurant operations.
• Experience managing reservations, guest flow, seating strategy, table utilization and service pacing.
• A strong understanding of premium hospitality, guest service and service recovery.
• Experience recruiting, coaching and developing high-performing restaurant teams.
• Strong financial awareness, including labor management, revenue optimization and productivity.
• Excellent communication, coaching, organization and problem-solving skills.
• Experience using point-of-sale, reservation, scheduling, Microsoft Office and restaurant technology systems.
• The ability to remain calm, visible and organized in a fast-paced hospitality environment.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, onboard, coach and develop an engaged, high-performing Front of House team.
• Lead daily Front of House operations with consistency, organization and efficiency.
• Create a Bistro experience that feels welcoming, relaxed, social and unhurried.
• Manage reservations, seating plans, table availability, guest pacing and dining-room capacity.
• Monitor wait times and service pace and adjust seating strategies throughout the day to prevent bottlenecks.
• Organize staffing, sections and floor plans to match anticipated guest demand.
• Maintain a visible presence in the dining room and respond professionally to guest feedback and service-recovery opportunities.
• Ensure opening, closing, side work, cash-handling and service procedures are consistently completed.
• Ensure menus, point-of-sale systems, reservation systems and service procedures are current and accurately executed.
• Partner with the Kitchen Manager to coordinate food quality, service timing, dietary requirements and peak-period execution.
• Lead pre-shift meetings and provide regular coaching, feedback and hands-on support to team members.
• Manage Front of House labor and operating expenses within approved budgets.
• Monitor revenue, average guest check, covers, beverage sales, table utilization and service productivity.
• Use guest feedback, operational data and financial results to continuously improve Bistro performance.

Skills

Restaurant leadership

High-volume ops

Guest service

Staff coaching

Labor management

Communication

Problem solving

Tools

POS systems

Reservation systems

Scheduling software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Work in Wellness at the New Yora Nordic Spa

Bistro Restaurant Manager

Something New Is Taking Shape

Opening in November 2026, Yora Nordic Spa is a place to pause, reconnect and experience wellbeing through nature, hydrotherapy and authentic human connection. It is a space where our team will create thoughtful and welcoming experiences that help guests reconnect with themselves, with others and with the natural world around them.

We are now building our founding team-the people who will bring Yora Nordic Spa to life and shape our culture from the very beginning. Working at Yora means working in wellness and contributing to a workplace and guest experience that are simple, inclusive, natural and social.

The Opportunity

The Bistro Restaurant Manager will be part of Yora's founding leadership team. Working alongside the Food & Beverage Manager and Kitchen Manager, this role will recruit, prepare and lead the Front of House team who will welcome Yora Nordic Spa's first Bistro guests in November 2026. This role is anticipated to start in mid-October 2026.

The Bistro Restaurant Manager creates a place where guests can pause, reconnect and enjoy meaningful time together. Through thoughtful leadership, disciplined guest flow and authentic hospitality, this role builds a team that delivers warm, effortless service while balancing guest satisfaction, table utilization, labor productivity and financial performance.

What You Will Do

• Recruit, onboard, coach and develop an engaged, high-performing Front of House team.
• Lead daily Front of House operations with consistency, organization and efficiency.
• Create a Bistro experience that feels welcoming, relaxed, social and unhurried.
• Manage reservations, seating plans, table availability, guest pacing and dining-room capacity.
• Monitor wait times and service pace and adjust seating strategies throughout the day to prevent bottlenecks.
• Organize staffing, sections and floor plans to match anticipated guest demand.
• Maintain a visible presence in the dining room and respond professionally to guest feedback and service-recovery opportunities.
• Ensure opening, closing, side work, cash-handling and service procedures are consistently completed.
• Ensure menus, point-of-sale systems, reservation systems and service procedures are current and accurately executed.
• Partner with the Kitchen Manager to coordinate food quality, service timing, dietary requirements and peak-period execution.
• Lead pre-shift meetings and provide regular coaching, feedback and hands-on support to team members.
• Manage Front of House labor and operating expenses within approved budgets.
• Monitor revenue, average guest check, covers, beverage sales, table utilization and service productivity.
• Use guest feedback, operational data and financial results to continuously improve Bistro performance.

What You Bring

• Three to five years of progressive restaurant leadership experience in hospitality, premium casual dining, boutique hotels, resorts or wellness environments.
• Demonstrated success leading high-volume restaurant operations.
• Experience managing reservations, guest flow, seating strategy, table utilization and service pacing.
• A strong understanding of premium hospitality, guest service and service recovery.
• Experience recruiting, coaching and developing high-performing restaurant teams.
• Strong financial awareness, including labor management, revenue optimization and productivity.
• Excellent communication, coaching, organization and problem-solving skills.
• Experience using point-of-sale, reservation, scheduling, Microsoft Office and restaurant technology systems.
• The ability to remain calm, visible and organized in a fast-paced hospitality environment.

Schedule

This is a full-time, on-site leadership position. The Bistro Restaurant Manager must be available to work a flexible schedule that may include mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays based on business needs. Additional flexibility will be required during the pre-opening and opening periods.

Benefits and Perks

As a member of Yora's founding team, you will be eligible to participate in a range of employee benefits and perks, which are expected to include:

• Health and wellness benefits.
• Paid time off.
• Employee wellness privileges and discounted experiences at Yora Nordic Spa locations.
• Bistro and retail discounts.
• Learning, growth and development opportunities within a growing wellness brand.

Yora is currently finalizing its employee benefit plans. Specific coverage, eligibility requirements, employee contributions and plan terms will be shared during the recruitment process and will be governed by the applicable plan documents.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

This is an active position requiring extended periods of standing and walking in a fast-paced restaurant environment. The role involves regular bending and reaching, carrying routine service materials, moving throughout the dining room and service areas, and periods of computer and point-of-sale system use. The Bistro Restaurant Manager may regularly assist with Front of House service and operational duties to support business needs. Employees work around hot food and beverages, glassware, restaurant and service equipment, food allergens, cleaning products and chemicals, noise, changing temperatures and wet or slippery surfaces. Appropriate food-safety procedures, equipment-safety practices and protective equipment must be used when required. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position safely, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Reasonable Accommodation

Yora Nordic Spa provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees in accordance with applicable law. To request an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact People & Culture at [e-mail].

Equal Employment Opportunity

Yora Nordic Spa is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religious creed, age, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Work Here. Soak Here. Help Us Bring Yora Nordic Spa to Life.