Photo of Cheeca Lodge and Spa, Islamorada, FL

Restaurant Manager

Cheeca Lodge and Spa

81801 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036

214 Room Hotel
Managed By Northwood Hospitality
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Compensation: NA, Full-Time

Job Description

Food and Beverage Manager at Morada Bay Beach Cafe, Islamorada, Florida Keys

Location: Morada Bay Beach Cafe, Mile Marker 81.6, Islamorada, Florida Keys

About the Restaurant

The Beach Club: A breathtaking beachside venue, the Beach Club is designed to embody the spirit of a laid-back yet sophisticated beach café. With a menu that blends Caribbean and American influences, the Beach Club offers an array of local seafood and innovative dishes. The atmosphere is enhanced by the surrounding tropical beauty, making it a perfect spot for a casual yet chic dining experience.

Job Summary As the Restaurant Manager at Morada Bay Beach Cafe, you'll be responsible for managing the restaurant in line with the resort's standards and vision. This leadership role requires a balance of operational management, guest service excellence, and financial acumen

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Vision and Leadership

  • Collaborate with the Director of F&B to control costs, maximize profits, and offer unique dining experiences.
  • Establish the restaurant's position in the competitive market.
  • Regularly review operational results, identify issues, and take corrective actions in consultation with the Director of F&B.
  • Represent and promote the restaurant and resort at events and functions, maintaining a high profile with clients.
  • Stay informed about industry trends and suggest implementations for the resort's benefit.
  • Attend professional development meetings and training.

Guest Management

  • Ensure superior quality and presentation of all menu items.
  • Assess and enhance guest satisfaction through daily interaction and review of guest comments.
  • Uphold the expected level of guest service and address all guest requests efficiently.
  • Manage and resolve guest complaints promptly, ensuring a positive outcome.

Staff Management

  • Oversee recruitment, training, evaluation, and if necessary, disciplinary actions of staff.
  • Conduct and participate in team briefings, ensuring clear communication and operational efficiency.
  • Coach and motivate staff, reinforcing positive behaviors and addressing performance issues.

Restaurant Management/Production

  • Ensure cultural and core standards are met, coordinating with various departments for events.
  • Maintain compliance with state regulations.
  • Supervise guest service to uphold the established standards.

Financial Management

  • Control labor and operating expenses through effective scheduling, budgeting, and inventory management.
  • Ensure quality and portion consistency, and educate staff on the importance of cost controls.
  • Manage assets, including food and beverage inventories and equipment, to optimize profitability.

Education

  • Hotel/Restaurant Management Degree Preferred.

Experience and Skills

  • Minimum age of 18 years.
  • At least five years in a managerial position within food and beverage, with experience in a luxury resort setting.
  • Basic computer skills and command of the English language.
  • Thorough knowledge of hotel services and facilities.
  • Preferred: Degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management, fluency in Spanish, Excel skills, and fine-dining knowledge.

Benefits for Full-Time Employees

  • 401(k) with employer matching.
  • AD&D insurance.
  • Dental, health, and vision insurance.
  • Employee discounts.
  • Flexible spending and health savings accounts.
  • Life insurance.
  • Paid time off.

As the Restaurant Manager at Morada Bay Beach Cafe, you will be instrumental in shaping the guest experience in one of the most idyllic settings in the Florida Keys. Your leadership will drive the team towards excellence in service and operational efficiency. Join us to lead a dedicated team committed to providing exceptional experiences in a beautiful beachside environment.

Posted December 23, 2024

Cheeca Lodge and Spa

WELCOME TO CHEECA

A Legendary Tropical Hideaway

Since 1946 the historic Cheeca Lodge & Spa has enchanted guests with world-class fishing, exceptional accommodations, and gracious hospitality. Come experience this lush oceanfront retreat, considered the premier luxury resort in the Florida Keys.

The Legend of Our Grand Florida Keys Hotel Resort

You've found it...the crown jewel of Islamorada Florida Keys hotels. 

Hardy Keys pioneers called Conchs chose this very beach to carve out a tenacious living in the isolated beauty of the undiscovered Florida Keys. Here, they formed a Methodist congregation and built a two-room school house and a cemetery. Cheeca has preserved this Pioneer Cemetery, where members of the founding families of Islamorada are buried. You can explore it today; it is a designated historical site. The Angel with the Broken Wing watches over the grave of Etta Pinder, who died in 1914. Here lies the first footprint of Islamorada – "Purple Isle" in Spanish.

The early 1940's brought electricity and fresh water. Mrs. Clara Mae Downey from Olney, Maryland, opened the Olney Inn in 1946. She described this early bellwether of Cheeca as "different – rather comparable to the tropical estate of a gifted host." Clara's first guest was President Harry Truman, who cherished his time loafing around the pool and wondering amidst the resort's 22 quaint bungalows. 

Fast horses, high society and a healthy dose of Keys vivacity marked the reign of the Twitchell Family in the 1960's. Cynthia, better known as "Chee," was an heiress to the A&P grocery chain and owner of a top thoroughbred racing farm. "We took my nickname, combined it with my husband Carl's, and came up with "Cheeca," she recalled. The Twitchells completely refurbished the property, adding the main lodge, the oceanfront villas, tennis courts, golf course and Cheeca's trademark wooden fishing pier. Chee raised miniature tarpon and her beloved seahorses in the aquariums throughout the resort. "Suzy the Seahorse" became Cheeca's mascot and logo, gracing the resort's menus, brochures, towels and linens.

Avid outdoorsman and Coca Cola magnate Carl Navarre purchased Cheeca Lodge in 1976, hosting his Fortune 500 friends in for sunny days of sportfishing and golf. Celebrities flocked to the hotel and famous guests were reeling in giant bonefish right off the resort's pier. The "Sportfishing Capital of the World" was born, seducing wealthy adventurers from around the world.

In 2005, Cheeca Lodge underwent over $30 million dollars in renovations, restoring the property and its surrounding grounds to their original grandeur, ensuring that we will be a cherished destination for generations to come. Following a fire on New Year's Eve 2008, the Main Lodge was completely rebuilt once again, with a fabulous open-air lobby, a spectacular oceanfront banquet room with panoramic views, and an exclusive indoor / outdoor lounge area for club members.