About Carnatic Cafe
Carnatic Cafe is Oakville's destination for authentic South Indian vegetarian cuisine — rooted in tradition, driven by quality, and growing with intention. As we scale and refine our operations, we're bringing in a seasoned hospitality expert to help us build the systems, standards, and processes that will define the next chapter of our restaurant — from the moment a guest walks in to the moment their meal is delivered from the kitchen.
The Role
This is not a cooking or serving position. We're looking for a Restaurant Operations Advisor — someone with deep, end-to-end hospitality experience across both the front of house (FOH) and back of house (BOH) who has the strategic mindset to assess, document, and elevate how we operate at every touchpoint.
You will conduct a thorough audit of our current restaurant operations, identify gaps and inefficiencies, and build or refine standard operating procedures (SOPs) that our entire team can execute consistently. You'll work closely with ownership and serve as a trusted strategic voice in shaping our operational foundation.
What You'll Do
Front of House
- Audit the full guest journey — arrival, seating, greeting, order-taking, service flow, upselling, complaint handling, and farewell
- Assess host/server workflows, table management, reservation handling, and waitlist practices
- Evaluate POS usage, billing accuracy, payment processing, and end-of-day reconciliation
- Review FOH-BOH communication systems (ticketing, expo, runner coordination)
- Assess ambiance, cleanliness standards, table setup, and overall presentation consistency
- Identify training gaps in service etiquette, menu knowledge, and guest recovery protocols
Back of House
- Audit kitchen workflows — prep, mise en place, line execution, plating, and closing procedures
- Evaluate food safety practices, storage systems, labelling, temperature logs, and HACCP compliance
- Assess inventory management, ordering systems, waste tracking, and supplier relationships
- Review staffing structure, shift scheduling, and kitchen communication dynamics
Across the Operation
- Document and build SOPs for all key FOH and BOH operational touchpoints
- Deliver a structured audit report with findings, priorities, and a phased implementation roadmap
- Advise ownership on best practices, cost controls, quality benchmarks, and team accountability systems
- Recommend staff development actions, training frameworks, and accountability structures
Who You Are
- A seasoned hospitality professional with 10+ years of restaurant experience, including leadership roles (Restaurant Manager, General Manager, Executive Chef, Operations Director, or similar)
- You understand restaurant operations end-to-end — FOH service culture, BOH kitchen systems, people management, and financial controls
- You're politically savvy — you know how to deliver hard truths diplomatically, build trust with teams at every level, and work alongside ownership without friction
- You've built processes before — SOPs, training manuals, service standards, kitchen playbooks, or full operational frameworks
- Experience in South Asian, vegetarian, or ethnic cuisine restaurants is a strong asset
- Comfortable working in an independent, owner-operated restaurant environment where your recommendations will carry real weight
- A confident communicator who can present findings clearly to both kitchen staff and ownership
What We Offer
- Competitive contract compensation (rate negotiable based on experience)
- Direct access to ownership — your recommendations will be heard and acted upon
- Flexible engagement structure — we'll work around your schedule
- The opportunity to make a lasting operational impact on a beloved local restaurant with growth ambitions
How to Apply
Send your resume and a brief note on your experience auditing or building restaurant operations to [email protected] or call/text 437-433-1659.
Tell us: What's the most impactful operational change you've made — FOH or BOH — and how did you get the team to adopt it?
Carnatic Cafe is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.
Job Type: Contract | Part-Time Location: Oakville, ON (On-site) Start Date: Immediate
Pay: $25.00-$35.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
