Chef

Workstream; Elmhurst (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaried compensation

Creative menu ownership

Supportive ownership team

Opportunity to build something

Job summary

Pour Destino in Elmhurst, IL seeks a Head Chef to lead our culinary operation from menu vision to daily execution. You’ll collaborate with ownership to grow the food program and elevate the dining experience, overseeing lunch, dinner, and weekend service with a Spanish tapas focus.

We value strong leadership, cost control, and a passion for hospitality. This salaried, full-time role offers creative ownership over menu direction and a supportive ownership team committed to your success.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of progressive kitchen experience, including time as a sous chef or senior line lead.
• Deep knowledge of Spanish cuisine, tapas-style cooking, or Mediterranean flavors strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to manage food cost and kitchen financials.
• Strong leadership presence with experience training and motivating a kitchen team.
• Organized, composed under pressure, and committed to consistent execution.
• A genuine passion for hospitality and a desire to grow with a local, independent restaurant.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all back-of-house operations across lunch, dinner, and weekend service.
• Develop and evolve our Spanish-inspired tapas menu with creativity, seasonality, and guest experience in mind.
• Maintain rigorous standards for food quality, consistency, and presentation on every plate.
• Own food cost management — including ordering, inventory, vendor relationships, and waste reduction.
• Hire, train, and develop kitchen staff, fostering a culture of accountability, growth, and pride in craft.
• Collaborate with ownership on specials programming, seasonal menu updates, and new offerings.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, sanitation, and health code standards.
• Partner with front-of-house leadership to deliver seamless, guest-first service.

Job description

Head Chef — Pour Destino | Elmhurst, IL

Position Type: Full-Time, Salaried Location: 545 Spring Road, Elmhurst, IL

About the Role

Pour Destino is looking for a talented and driven culinary professional ready to take the next step in their career. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled sous chef to step into a Head Chef role at one of Elmhurst's most distinctive dining destinations — a Spanish tapas and craft cocktail restaurant with a passionate team, a loyal local following, and real room to make the kitchen your own.

You’ll lead our culinary operation end-to-end, from menu vision to daily execution, working closely with ownership to grow the food program alongside the restaurant.

What You'll Do

• Lead and manage all back-of-house operations across lunch, dinner, and weekend service
• Develop and evolve our Spanish-inspired tapas menu with creativity, seasonality, and guest experience in mind
• Maintain rigorous standards for food quality, consistency, and presentation on every plate
• Own food cost management — including ordering, inventory, vendor relationships, and waste reduction
• Hire, train, and develop kitchen staff, fostering a culture of accountability, growth, and pride in craft
• Collaborate with ownership on specials programming, seasonal menu updates, and new offerings
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, sanitation, and health code standards
• Partner with front-of-house leadership to deliver seamless, guest-first service

What We're Looking For

• 3–5+ years of progressive kitchen experience, including time as a sous chef or senior line lead
• Deep knowledge of Spanish cuisine, tapas-style cooking, or Mediterranean flavors strongly preferred
• Proven ability to manage food cost and kitchen financials
• Strong leadership presence with experience training and motivating a kitchen team
• Organized, composed under pressure, and committed to consistent execution
• A genuine passion for hospitality and a desire to grow with a local, independent restaurant

What We Offer

• Competitive salaried compensation commensurate with experience
• Creative ownership over the menu and kitchen direction
• A supportive, community-rooted ownership team invested in your success
• The opportunity to build something — not just maintain it

Let’s make one thing clear: Pour Destino is not your typical restaurant. If you’re looking for formal entrées and a four-course meal, we’re probably not your space. But if you’re searching for a place that feels like walking into a friend's living room—a place to connect, relax, and share—then you’ve found your destination.

Pour Destino is designed to be a social hub, a space to hang out with friends and family, or with people you’d like to become your friends and family. It’s where you share stories, create new ones, and let the conversation flow over cocktails and glasses of wine. We wanted to build something more than just a bar, a coffee shop, or a lounge; we wanted to create a place that becomes a part of your life’s best moments.

Food & Drink: A Shared Experience

Our menu is built around the art of sharing. Inspired by the vibrant Spanish tradition of tapas and pinchos, we’ve added our own international twist. We don’t claim to be a traditional Spanish restaurant—we add our own flair to everything we do, just as we all do in life. Our food is designed to be passed around the table, sparking conversation and connection. It’s the perfect companion for a craft cocktail, a glass of wine, or maybe a couple of bottles.

From Around the World to Our Hometown

Pour Destino was imagined by a group of young men in their mid-20s who wanted to bring the energetic, cosmopolitan vibe they loved in cities like San Diego, San Francisco, London, and Barcelona to the suburbs.

After originally opening in Hinsdale, our new Elmhurst location is a true homecoming for co-owners Collin Ringelstetter and Joseph Guerino, who both grew up here. This is their opportunity to share a vision they’re passionate about with the community that raised them.

We are thrilled to be a part of the Spring Road and Elmhurst community, and we hope to create a welcoming space for all. Come be a part of our story, and let us be a part of yours.