General Manager

General Manager Esquina 525 — Asbury Park, NJ

Esquina 525 is a new, high-energy Nikkei restaurant opening in the heart of Asbury Park, bringing together Peruvian ingredients, Japanese technique, bold cocktails, warm hospitality, and a dining room built to feel alive.

We are looking for an experienced, confident, and hospitality-driven General Manager to lead the restaurant from opening and help shape the culture, service standards, and guest experience from day one.

This is a major leadership role for someone who understands what it takes to open and operate a strong restaurant. We are looking for a true operator — someone who can lead a team, manage the floor, build systems, drive service, and create an environment where both guests and staff feel taken care of.

About the Role

The General Manager will oversee all front-of-house operations and work closely with ownership, culinary leadership, bar leadership, and management to ensure Esquina 525 operates at the highest level.

This person should be polished, organized, hands-on, and calm under pressure. We are looking for someone who can bring structure, energy, and leadership to a new restaurant with big ambitions.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily restaurant operations and ensure smooth, consistent service
• Hire, train, coach, and develop front-of-house team members
• Create and uphold service standards, steps of service, and floor presence
• Maintain a strong guest experience from arrival to departure
• Handle guest relations, reservations, VIPs, private events, and service recovery
• Work closely with the bar and kitchen teams to keep communication strong
• Manage schedules, labor, payroll awareness, and staffing needs
• Monitor restaurant cleanliness, organization, opening/closing duties, and overall readiness
• Support beverage and food sales through team education and strong floor leadership
• Hold the team accountable while creating a respectful and positive work environment
• Assist with inventory, ordering, vendor communication, and operational systems as needed
• Help build the culture, standards, and reputation of Esquina 525 from the ground up

What We’re Looking For

• Previous General Manager or senior management experience in a high-volume or high-quality restaurant
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to manage a team with confidence and professionalism
• Experience with restaurant openings is a major plus
• Strong understanding of hospitality, service, food, beverage, and guest relations
• Ability to lead by example and be present on the floor
• Organized, detail-oriented, and proactive
• Strong communication skills with both staff and ownership
• Comfortable handling pressure, problem-solving in real time, and making decisions
• Passion for restaurants, hospitality, cocktails, food, and creating memorable guest experiences
• Knowledge of Resy, POS systems, scheduling, and restaurant operations preferred

The Ideal Candidate

The right person for this role is not just a manager — they are a leader. They know how to build a team, set expectations, inspire hospitality, and keep the restaurant moving with energy and control.

We want someone who is excited to be part of something new, ambitious, and different for Asbury Park. Esquina 525 will be fun, loud, polished, ingredient-driven, and full of life. The General Manager should bring that same energy while making sure every detail is handled.

Why Join Us

This is an opportunity to be part of a strong new restaurant concept from the beginning. You will have the chance to help create the culture, train the opening team, shape the guest experience, and grow with a hospitality group that is continuing to build exciting restaurants across New Jersey and New York.

We are looking for someone who wants ownership in their work, takes pride in hospitality, and is ready to lead a serious restaurant with serious potential.

Position Details

Location: Asbury Park, NJ
Position: Full-Time General Manager
Experience: Restaurant management experience required
Compensation: Competitive, based on experience