Esquire Bar Manager

M Street Entertainment Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 71,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Life insurance

Disability insurance (STD/LTD)

Employee Assistance Program

Paid time off

Chicago Paid Leave

Paid Sick and Safe Leave

Bereavement leave

Job summary

Esquire, a modern luxury steakhouse on Oak Street in Chicago’s Gold Coast, seeks a Bar Manager to run the day-to-day operation of the bar and Trophy Room, ensuring high-volume craft-cocktail excellence and cost control.

You will build the sake, spirits, and cocktail programs, lead the bar team, train staff on BASSET compliance, and partner with the Beverage Manager on pricing and rare-spirits offerings. This salaried role reports to the General Manager.

Qualifications

• 4+ years bar leadership in upscale or craft-cocktail settings.
• Deep cocktail, spirits, and rare-spirits knowledge.
• Experience in inventory and cost-control systems.
• Proven team development and scheduling.

Responsibilities

• Build and curate the sake, spirits, and cocktail programs; own lists, sourcing, and pricing.
• Own nightly bar operations across the main bar and Trophy Room; set up, run, and close down to standard.
• Lead and develop the bar team (Lead Bar, Bartenders, Bar Backs).
• Execute the cocktail and barrel-aged program to recipe and presentation standard set with the Beverage Manager.
• Own bar inventory, par, ordering, and cost; protect margin and minimize shrink.
• Train and certify bartenders on the program, service standards, and responsible-service compliance (BASSET).
• Partner with the Beverage Manager on the program, the by-the-glass and rare-spirits offering, and pricing.

Skills

Bar leadership

Team development

Inventory control

Cost management

Job description

• Pay or shift range: $71,000 USD to $96,000 USD The estimated range is the budgeted amount for this position. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, location, qualifications and other job-related reasons.
• Front of House
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: ESQUI001134

Description

Location: 58 East Oak Street, Gold Coast, Chicago, IL Employment type: Full-time Classification: Salaried, exempt Reports to:General Manager

Why Esquire

Esquire is a 265-seat luxury steakhouse in Chicago’s Gold Coast where Japanese precision meets French technique — anchored by an elite Wagyu and seafood program, a four-level Wine Tower, the OakShō omakase counter, and the invitation-only Maison 58. We hold an uncompromising standard and hire people who want to set it, not just meet it. Esquire is operated by M Street Collective, the group behind Nashville’s Virago, Moto, Kayne Prime, and Saint Añejo.

The Role

Runs the day-to-day operation of the bar and Trophy Room — the operational owner of cocktail execution, bar staffing, and bar cost. Where the Beverage Manager owns the wine program, the Bar Manager oversees the beverage vision and makes the bar run every night to that standard, holding quality and consistency across a high-volume craft program.

What You’ll Do

• Build and curate the sake, spirits, and cocktail programs; own lists, sourcing, and pricing.
• Own nightly bar operations across the main bar and Trophy Room; set up, run, and close down to standard.
• Lead and develop the bar team (Lead Bar, Bartenders, Bar Backs).
• Execute the cocktail and barrel-aged program to recipe and presentation standard set with the Beverage Manager.
• Own bar inventory, par, ordering, and cost; protect margin and minimize shrink.
• Train and certify bartenders on the program, service standards, and responsible-service compliance (BASSET).
• Partner with the Beverage Manager on the program, the by-the-glass and rare-spirits offering, and pricing.

What You Bring

• 4+ years bar leadership in upscale or craft-cocktail settings, including supervisory or management experience.
• Deep cocktail, spirits, and rare-spirits knowledge; strong inventory and cost-control systems.
• Proven team development and scheduling.
• Calm command of a high-volume bar and a refined guest presence.

Certifications & Requirements

• Illinois BASSET (alcohol) — REQUIRED. Valid BASSET certification before any shift that involves selling, serving, or checking ID for alcohol, and no later than 30 days after hire (company policy; statute allows 120); renew every 3 years.
• Illinois Food Handler — REQUIRED. ANAB-accredited food-handler certificate within 30 days of hire; renew every 3 years. (Waived for holders of a current CFPM.)
• Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) — RECOMMENDED, so the role can serve as an on-duty CFPM (at least one required on site during all food prep and service hours).

Compensation — Pay Scale

$71,000 to $96,000 per year, paid as an annual salary (market-aligned). The final offer is confirmed in writing. This position is eligible for a performance bonus as a component of total compensation.

Eligible team members receive group medical, dental, and vision insurance (the Company pays part of the premium); a 401(k) plan; Company-paid life insurance, AD&D, STD, and LTD; and a confidential Employee Assistance Program. Time off includes Paid Time Off for eligible salaried positions, Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave, and paid bereavement leave, plus the protected leaves required by federal and Illinois law (FMLA, VESSA, military, jury, and voting). Final plan details and eligibility are confirmed in the written offer.

Held to Esquire’s four pillars — quality, consistency, hospitality, and innovation — and the five universal competencies: professionalism, teamwork, growth mindset, excellence, and hospitality.

About Esquire

Esquire is a modern luxury steakhouse on Oak Street in Chicago’s Gold Coast — Japanese precision built on a French foundation, anchored by an elite Wagyu program and a seafood-and-sushi program that earns equal billing. Across a 265-seat dining room, a four-level ~5,000-bottle Wine Tower, the Trophy Room, the invitation-only 58 Club, and the OakShō omakase counter, it delivers omotenashi-inspired hospitality and culinary theater in a vintage-Hollywood setting.

About M Street Collective

M Street Collective is the hospitality group behind Esquire, with operations in Nashville and Chicago. Built on four pillars — quality, consistency, hospitality, and innovation — and a commitment to innovation, leadership development and world‑class training, the Collective creates restaurants and experiences defined by an uncompromising standard and genuine, anticipatory care.

M Street Collective is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race (including traits associated with race under the CROWN Act), color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital or family‑responsibilities status, disability, military or veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, arrest or conviction record (as limited by law), credit history, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, Illinois, or Chicago law. Consistent with the Illinois Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act, we do not ask about criminal history on the application, and we do not ask about salary history. Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities, for pregnancy and related conditions, and for religious observance — contact People Operations. This position is performed in Chicago, Illinois.

Qualifications

Experience

Required

4 years: Bar Leadership in upscale or craft-cocktail settings, including supervisory or management experience

Preferred

Deep cocktail, spirits, and rare-spirits knowledge; strong inventory and cost-control systems

Proven team development and scheduling

Calm command of a high-volume bar and a refined guest presence

Licenses & Certifications

Required

Cert Food Protection Mgr

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.