Restaurant Manager / Maitre D

Thomas Keller Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a prestigious fine dining restaurant as a Maître D’ where you will play a crucial role in elevating guest experiences. This managerial position requires strong leadership and a passion for excellence in service. Ideal candidates will bring fine dining experience and a commitment to hospitality excellence.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package

Opportunities for professional growth

Scholarship programs

401K with employer matching

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of fine dining or luxury hospitality experience in a leadership role.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse team.

Responsibilities

• Orchestrating an unparalleled dining experience through seamless guest relations.
• Coaching and inspiring a world-class service team.
• Managing VIP guests and dining room logistics.

Skills

Exceptional interpersonal skills

Leadership

Fluency in additional languages

Job description

Our team of hospitality professionals strives to set new standards in service. Within our fine dining, Michelin star establishments, we seek passionate individuals who humbly seek to be part of excellence.

Per Se is seeking a warm, gracious and sophisticated Maître D’. This is a managerial role with associated responsibilities. This position may include the opportunity to be focused on the restaurant’s private dining room. Qualified candidates will be able to consistently promote and demonstrate positive guest relations and must have a strong interest in food and wine. Night and weekend availability is required. Ideal candidates will have NYC fine dining experience.

As the Maître D’, you will be the face of Per Se, orchestrating an unparalleled dining experience through seamless guest relations, team leadership, and service excellence. Your role will involve:

• Guest Experience Mastery: Anticipating needs, curating personalized experiences, and ensuring each guest feels welcomed and valued.
• Team Leadership: Coaching and inspiring a world-class service team, upholding Chef Keller’s standards of hospitality and attention to detail.
• Service Execution: Overseeing dining room flow, coordinating with the Dining and Culinary leadership team, and maintaining the highest levels of refinement.
• Reservation & Seating Strategy: Managing VIP guests, special occasions, and dining room logistics to optimize service and ambiance.
• Culture & Brand Stewardship: Embodying the ethos of Per Se—precision, warmth, and excellence in every interaction.

What We’re Looking For:

• Minimum 3 years of fine dining or luxury hospitality experience in a leadership role.
• A deep understanding of Michelin-starred service standards and the nuances of world-class hospitality.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a genuine passion for guest engagement.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse, high-performing team.
• Strong organizational skills, adaptability, and a calm, solution-oriented mindset in a fast-paced environment.
• Fluency in additional languages is a plus.

Why Join Per Se?

• Work alongside an esteemed team in one of the world’s most celebrated dining establishments.
• Competitive salary and benefits package, including dining privileges within the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development in a culture that values excellence and collaboration.

If you are a hospitality professional with a refined touch, an innate ability to connect with guests, and a desire to be part of something truly exceptional, we invite you to apply.

Our company culture is founded on mentorship and providing a solid foundation of skills to support our profession.We are proud to offer:

• Opportunities for growth and advancement
• Peer mentorship
• Scholarship programs
• Competitive health insurance options, with employer contributions toward your premium based on the plan you choose
• 401K with no waiting periods and the opportunity to receive up to 4% of your salary as matching contributions
• Employee discounts at Chef Thomas Keller's casual properties
• Family meal
• Commuter benefits

Who we are:

Chef Thomas Keller raises the bar for the American culinary scene. His restaurants are legendary – The French Laundry, Bouchon, and Per Se among them – and he is the only American-born chef to ever hold multiple three-star Michelin rankings. Chef Keller’s culinary skills and high standards make him an inspiration to younger chefs and have earned him countless accolades, including The Culinary Institute of America’s “Chef of the Year” Award and the James Beard Foundation’s “Outstanding Chef” and “Outstanding Restaurateur” Awards. He is also the first male American chef to be designated a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor. In 2017, Chef Keller led Team USA to its first-ever gold medal in the Bocuse d’Or, a prestigious biannual competition that is regarded as the Olympics of the culinary world. Chef Keller is the author of six best-selling cookbooks and holds an honorary Doctorate in Culinary Arts from The Culinary Institute of America.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.