Restaurant Manager - Peacock Alley at Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre

Role Overview

Restaurant Manager at Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre, a Forbes Five-Star luxury property operated by Hilton, located in Dubai International Financial Centre. This role leads all aspects of operations across Peacock Alley, the Cigar Lounge, and Waqud Café to deliver exceptional, refined, and personalized guest experiences.

Company Overview

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts provides guests an exceptional environment and personalized attention of True Waldorf Service that creates a singular experience. Hilton is a global leader in hospitality that has welcomed more than 3 billion guests worldwide. The company maintains an award-winning workplace culture, recognized repeatedly on the World's Best Workplaces list by Great Place to Work and Fortune, and is committed to providing the best stay for every guest while setting new standards for the future of travel.

Role Purpose

The primary purpose of this role is to lead and oversee the day-to-day operations of Peacock Alley, the Cigar Lounge, and Waqud Café, ensuring the delivery of exceptional food, beverage, and service experiences while maximizing guest satisfaction, team performance, and profitability. The Restaurant Manager oversees the performance of multiple luxury food and beverage venues, ensuring the highest standards of service excellence, team engagement, operational efficiency, and financial results while working closely with the Director of Food & Drinks to drive guest satisfaction, revenue growth, and brand excellence through effective leadership and innovation, ensuring Waldorf Astoria and Forbes Travel Guide Standards.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Performance

• Achieve the business plan and financial objectives for the venues, balancing revenue growth, profitability, guest satisfaction, and team engagement.
• Partner with the Commercial, Marketing, Revenue and Culinary teams to develop and execute marketing initiatives, promotions, and seasonal activations that increase guest traffic and revenue.
• Manage venue budgets, forecasts, payroll, operating expenses, inventory, and cost controls effectively.
• Review business results regularly, including revenue, covers, labour productivity, guest satisfaction, market share, and profit margins, taking proactive action to improve performance.
• Optimize revenue through effective seating strategies, upselling opportunities, menu engineering, and enhanced guest experiences.
• Identify opportunities to drive incremental revenue through special events, beverage promotions, partnerships, and outlet activations.
• Drive cigar sales and profitability through strong product knowledge, effective upselling, appropriate stock management, and the creation of premium cigar experiences and activations that enhance guest engagement and revenue.

Food & Beverage Excellence

• Partner with the Executive Chef, venue chefs, and Food & Drinks Leadership Team to create innovative menus, drink offerings, cigar offerings, and promotional activities that drive guest engagement and profitability.
• Ensure food and beverage offerings are consistently delivered to luxury standards of quality, presentation, freshness, and service excellence.
• Maintain a strong knowledge of food, wine, spirits, specialty beverages, coffee culture, and premium cigar service.
• Continuously evaluate market trends and guest preferences to enhance menus and experiences.
• Champion Hilton's sustainability initiatives through responsible sourcing, waste reduction, and environmentally conscious operating practices.
• Drive product knowledge and service excellence through ongoing team coaching and training.

Guest Experience

• Lead the team in delivering Forbes Five-Star and Waldorf Astoria luxury service standards.
• Ensure Team Members provide personalised, intuitive, anticipated, and memorable guest experiences at every interaction.
• Develop strong relationships with regular guests, VIPs, residents, and corporate clients to increase guest loyalty and repeat business.
• Review and act on guest feedback, satisfaction scores, and online reviews, implementing improvements where required.
• Resolve guest concerns promptly and professionally, ensuring service recovery exceeds expectations.
• Maintain the highest standards in managing food allergies, dietary requirements, and special requests.
• Enhance the reputation of the outlets through quality service, consistency, and exceptional hospitality.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, develop, coach, and inspire a high-performing team across Peacock Alley, the Cigar Lounge, and Waqud Café.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and collaborative working environment where Team Members can thrive and achieve their professional goals.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, succession planning, performance management, and recognition initiatives.
• Schedule Team Members efficiently based on forecasted business levels while effectively managing labour costs.
• Conduct regular team briefings, coaching sessions, and performance discussions.
• Build strong working relationships with Culinary, Commercial, Housekeeping, Engineering, Finance, and other hotel departments.
• Maintain high standards of grooming, professionalism, and workplace conduct.

Operations and Compliance

• Ensure all venue operations comply with health, safety, hygiene, food safety, licensing, and company policies.
• Conduct regular inspections and audits to ensure operational excellence and compliance with luxury brand standards.
• Oversee all opening and closing procedures, including cash handling, financial controls, daily reports, and reconciliations.
• Manage inventory, purchasing, stock control, and cost management in accordance with company guidelines.
• Ensure operational efficiency through effective service delivery, workflow management, and resource allocation.
• Support and coordinate VIP visits, hotel events, promotions, and special activations.
• Monitor competitor activity, industry trends, and market developments to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation.
• Perform any additional duties assigned by the Director of Food & Drinks or Hotel Management.

Qualifications & Experience

• Previous Food & Beverage leadership experience in luxury food and drinks venues and operations.
• Strong beverage knowledge including tea, coffee, cocktails, and premium spirits.
• Excellent cigar knowledge and market knowledge about cigar offerings in the city.
• Advantageous: Previous experience in luxury lounges, cafés, afternoon tea concepts, cigar lounges, or premium beverage-focused venues.
• Advantageous: Degree or diploma in Hotel Management or related field.

Skills & Competencies

• Commercial focus with a demonstrated ability to achieve revenue growth, manage costs, and deliver business results.
• Inspirational leadership and people management skills, with experience coaching, developing, and motivating high-performing teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to engage effectively with guests, team members, and senior leadership.
• Customer focus, maintaining the highest standards of luxury hospitality and service excellence.
• Effective relationship management skills to build strong partnerships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and external partners.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, able to make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment while remaining calm and focused under pressure.
• Strong knowledge of luxury food and beverage operations, financial management, service standards, and operational controls.
• Impeccable grooming and professional presentation.
• Advantageous: Solid knowledge of luxury and Forbes Five-Star service standards.