Full-Time | Permanent
Tuesday–Saturday | 2:00 PM–10:00 PM
Competitive salary + tips
Wild Chicory | 525 Mount Pleasant Rd., Toronto
Wild Chicory is an intimate, upscale neighbourhood restaurant in Midtown Toronto known for its Canadian-inspired cuisine, warm hospitality and polished but approachable dining experience.
We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Chef de Cuisine / Head Chef to lead our kitchen and take ownership of day-to-day operations.
Wild Chicory has an established menu and culinary direction already in place. This role is ideal for a strong kitchen leader who enjoys executing and refining an existing concept, maintaining high standards and working closely with ownership on menu development, sourcing and inventory.
This is a true working-chef role. We are looking for someone organized, dependable, technically strong, calm under pressure and comfortable leading from the line alongside the team.
Responsibilities
- Lead and organize à la carte dinner service
- Ensure the kitchen is fully prepped and service-ready each day
- Execute and maintain consistency across Wild Chicory’s established menu
- Maintain high standards for flavour, portioning, presentation and quality
- Lead, train and support kitchen staff
- Maintain exceptional kitchen cleanliness, organization and food-safety standards
- Oversee prep, mise en place and daily kitchen readiness
- Work closely with the owner on menu planning, sourcing, purchasing and inventory
- Communicate ingredient and product needs clearly so purchasing can be planned efficiently
- Manage product rotation, minimize waste and help control food costs
- Maintain strong communication across the kitchen team
- Identify issues, take initiative and solve problems proactively
- Work collaboratively with ownership on menu refinement and future development
- Work hands-on during service and support the team wherever needed
Qualifications & Experience
- Minimum 5 years of professional kitchen experience in full-service restaurants
- Minimum 2 years in a kitchen leadership role such as Head Chef, Chef de Cuisine, Sous Chef or equivalent
- Strong à la carte restaurant experience
- Demonstrated ability to lead and organize dinner service
- Strong culinary fundamentals, knife skills and confidence working with proteins
- Experience training and supervising kitchen staff
- Experience with prep planning, inventory, ordering, product rotation and waste control
- Strong understanding of food safety and sanitation standards
- High standards for cleanliness, organization and consistency
- Strong communication and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work independently and take initiative
- Comfortable working collaboratively with an involved owner on menu development, sourcing and inventory
- Appreciation for seasonal, ingredient-driven and Canadian-inspired cuisine
- Availability to work Tuesday–Saturday, 2:00 PM–10:00 PM
Why Wild Chicory
Wild Chicory offers a hands-on leadership opportunity with a schedule and level of ownership that are increasingly hard to find in the restaurant industry:
- Consistent 5-day workweek
- Sunday and Monday off every week
- Predictable 2:00 PM–10:00 PM schedule
- Earlier nights than many restaurant kitchens
- Annual holiday closure over the Christmas/New Year period, typically from around December 20 through mid-January
- Competitive salary + tips
- An established Canadian-inspired menu and concept
- Meaningful ownership of day-to-day kitchen operations
- Hands-on collaboration with the owner on menu, sourcing, purchasing and inventory
- Opportunity to refine existing dishes and contribute to future menu development
- A small, focused kitchen where your leadership has a visible impact
- An established Midtown neighbourhood restaurant with a loyal clientele
- Opportunity to shape kitchen culture, standards and team development
This opportunity may be an excellent fit for an experienced Chef de Cuisine, Head Chef, or strong Sous Chef ready to take the next step into kitchen leadership.
Apply
Please submit your résumé along with a brief note outlining your current or most recent restaurant role, kitchen leadership experience, availability, phone number and email.
This is a current permanent vacancy.
We appreciate all applications. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.