Director of Food and Beverage
Apply NowCompany: Sartiano's
Location: New York, NY 10025
Description:
Director of Food & Beverage
Responsible To:
Director of Operations
The Place:
Nestled in the heart of SoHo at The Mercer, Sartiano's combines Italian heritage and fare with a modern fine dining experience.
Sartiano's was created by prominent lifestyle architect, Scott Sartiano, with culinary direction from three-time James Beard award winner Chef Alfred Portale.
The Cuisine:
Alfred Portale will lead the culinary direction as the Chef managing Partner. The uniquely crafted menu hones in on a specialty to set the tone for the fine dining experience. Building off the foundation of offering specialized meats, Sartiano's establishes itself as an authentic Italian restaurant.
The Executive Chef:
Chef Chris Lewnes, a Brooklyn-born Italian American, grew up surrounded by the flavors and aromas of Italian American cuisine in central New Jersey. After attending Rutgers University and earning a degree in journalism, Chris decided to embrace his love for cooking and pursue a career in the culinary arts.
As fate would have it, Chris was approached by Chef Alfred Portale with the exact opportunity he had been waiting for: the position of Executive Chef at Scott Sartiano's namesake restaurant, Sartiano's in The Mercer Hotel. Chris is excited to work alongside Chef Portale, a pioneer of New American cuisine, in a legendary location, and finally get the chance to share his love for Italian American cuisine in New York.
The Role:
The Director of Food & Beverage is responsible for overseeing all food and beverage operations at Sartiano's and its associated outlets, including the caf, lobby experience, in-room dining, private dining, the main restaurant, and Sub Mercer. This role requires a visionary leader with deep expertise in hospitality, operations, and guest experience, ensuring the highest levels of service, quality, and profitability. Additionally, the Director will play a key role in the execution of new Sartiano's openings and pop-up experiences.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Operations
Develop and implement strategies to enhance the overall food and beverage experience while maintaining brand standards.
Lead and mentor teams across all Sartiano's outlets, fostering a culture of excellence and hospitality.
Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring seamless execution across all venues.
Implement operational efficiencies to optimize costs, labor, and service quality.
Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and licensing regulations.
Support the expansion of Sartiano's, including new openings and pop-up activations.
Guest Experience & Service Excellence
Maintain and enhance service standards across all outlets, ensuring consistency and excellence.
Foster a personalized and elevated guest experience that aligns with Sartiano's brand identity.
Act as a visible presence in the restaurant and outlets, engaging with guests and ensuring satisfaction.
Handle VIP and high-profile clientele with discretion and care.
Financial Management
Develop and manage budgets, financial targets, and P&L statements.
Monitor revenue streams and control costs to maximize profitability.
Oversee inventory management, purchasing, and vendor relationships to maintain quality and cost efficiency.
Identify opportunities for increased revenue through menu development, promotions, and strategic partnerships.
Team Development & Culture
Recruit, train, and develop a high-performing team across all outlets.
Foster a strong service culture through coaching, training, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Collaborate with HR to implement retention strategies and maintain high employee engagement.
Menu & Culinary Collaboration
Work closely with the culinary and beverage teams to ensure menus reflect seasonality and remain competitive within the NYC dining landscape.
Ensure that food and beverage offerings stay innovative and align with market trends.
Provide insight and feedback to maintain a dynamic and compelling menu selection.
Collaboration & Event Execution
Partner with the Events and Membership teams to curate private dining and large-scale event experiences.
Oversee execution of high-profile events, ensuring seamless service and exceptional quality.
Work closely with marketing on promotional initiatives, partnerships, and brand collaborations.
Qualifications & Experience:
Minimum of 8+ years of experience in food and beverage leadership roles, preferably within luxury hospitality or high-profile dining establishments.
Strong financial acumen with experience in budgeting, P&L management, and cost control.
Deep understanding of culinary and beverage trends, service standards, and guest expectations in a luxury setting.
Proven track record in team leadership, training, and talent development.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a natural ability to engage with guests and team members.
Experience in new restaurant openings and pop-up activations is a plus.
Ability to work in a fast-paced
Bond Hospitality and Mercer 1, LLC (DBA: Sartiano's) is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Responsible To:
Director of Operations
The Place:
Nestled in the heart of SoHo at The Mercer, Sartiano's combines Italian heritage and fare with a modern fine dining experience.
Sartiano's was created by prominent lifestyle architect, Scott Sartiano, with culinary direction from three-time James Beard award winner Chef Alfred Portale.
The Cuisine:
Alfred Portale will lead the culinary direction as the Chef managing Partner. The uniquely crafted menu hones in on a specialty to set the tone for the fine dining experience. Building off the foundation of offering specialized meats, Sartiano's establishes itself as an authentic Italian restaurant.
The Executive Chef:
Chef Chris Lewnes, a Brooklyn-born Italian American, grew up surrounded by the flavors and aromas of Italian American cuisine in central New Jersey. After attending Rutgers University and earning a degree in journalism, Chris decided to embrace his love for cooking and pursue a career in the culinary arts.
As fate would have it, Chris was approached by Chef Alfred Portale with the exact opportunity he had been waiting for: the position of Executive Chef at Scott Sartiano's namesake restaurant, Sartiano's in The Mercer Hotel. Chris is excited to work alongside Chef Portale, a pioneer of New American cuisine, in a legendary location, and finally get the chance to share his love for Italian American cuisine in New York.
The Role:
The Director of Food & Beverage is responsible for overseeing all food and beverage operations at Sartiano's and its associated outlets, including the caf, lobby experience, in-room dining, private dining, the main restaurant, and Sub Mercer. This role requires a visionary leader with deep expertise in hospitality, operations, and guest experience, ensuring the highest levels of service, quality, and profitability. Additionally, the Director will play a key role in the execution of new Sartiano's openings and pop-up experiences.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Operations
Develop and implement strategies to enhance the overall food and beverage experience while maintaining brand standards.
Lead and mentor teams across all Sartiano's outlets, fostering a culture of excellence and hospitality.
Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring seamless execution across all venues.
Implement operational efficiencies to optimize costs, labor, and service quality.
Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and licensing regulations.
Support the expansion of Sartiano's, including new openings and pop-up activations.
Guest Experience & Service Excellence
Maintain and enhance service standards across all outlets, ensuring consistency and excellence.
Foster a personalized and elevated guest experience that aligns with Sartiano's brand identity.
Act as a visible presence in the restaurant and outlets, engaging with guests and ensuring satisfaction.
Handle VIP and high-profile clientele with discretion and care.
Financial Management
Develop and manage budgets, financial targets, and P&L statements.
Monitor revenue streams and control costs to maximize profitability.
Oversee inventory management, purchasing, and vendor relationships to maintain quality and cost efficiency.
Identify opportunities for increased revenue through menu development, promotions, and strategic partnerships.
Team Development & Culture
Recruit, train, and develop a high-performing team across all outlets.
Foster a strong service culture through coaching, training, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Collaborate with HR to implement retention strategies and maintain high employee engagement.
Menu & Culinary Collaboration
Work closely with the culinary and beverage teams to ensure menus reflect seasonality and remain competitive within the NYC dining landscape.
Ensure that food and beverage offerings stay innovative and align with market trends.
Provide insight and feedback to maintain a dynamic and compelling menu selection.
Collaboration & Event Execution
Partner with the Events and Membership teams to curate private dining and large-scale event experiences.
Oversee execution of high-profile events, ensuring seamless service and exceptional quality.
Work closely with marketing on promotional initiatives, partnerships, and brand collaborations.
Qualifications & Experience:
Minimum of 8+ years of experience in food and beverage leadership roles, preferably within luxury hospitality or high-profile dining establishments.
Strong financial acumen with experience in budgeting, P&L management, and cost control.
Deep understanding of culinary and beverage trends, service standards, and guest expectations in a luxury setting.
Proven track record in team leadership, training, and talent development.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a natural ability to engage with guests and team members.
Experience in new restaurant openings and pop-up activations is a plus.
Ability to work in a fast-paced
Bond Hospitality and Mercer 1, LLC (DBA: Sartiano's) is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.