Head Chef — Pour Destino | Elmhurst, IL
Position Type: Full-Time, Salaried Location: 545 Spring Road, Elmhurst, IL
About the Role
Pour Destino is looking for a talented and driven culinary professional ready to take the next step in their career. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled sous chef to step into a Head Chef role at one of Elmhurst’s most distinctive dining destinations — a Spanish tapas and craft cocktail restaurant with a passionate team, a loyal local following, and real room to make the kitchen your own.
You’ll lead our culinary operation end-to-end, from menu vision to daily execution, working closely with ownership to grow the food program alongside the restaurant.
What You’ll Do
- Lead and manage all back-of-house operations across lunch, dinner, and weekend service
- Develop and evolve our Spanish-inspired tapas menu with creativity, seasonality, and guest experience in mind
- Maintain rigorous standards for food quality, consistency, and presentation on every plate
- Own food cost management — including ordering, inventory, vendor relationships, and waste reduction
- Hire, train, and develop kitchen staff, fostering a culture of accountability, growth, and pride in craft
- Collaborate with ownership on specials programming, seasonal menu updates, and new offerings
- Ensure full compliance with food safety, sanitation, and health code standards
- Partner with front-of-house leadership to deliver seamless, guest-first service
What We’re Looking For
- 3–5+ years of progressive kitchen experience, including time as a sous chef or senior line lead
- Deep knowledge of Spanish cuisine, tapas-style cooking, or Mediterranean flavors strongly preferred
- Proven ability to manage food cost and kitchen financials
- Strong leadership presence with experience training and motivating a kitchen team
- Organized, composed under pressure, and committed to consistent execution
- A genuine passion for hospitality and a desire to grow with a local, independent restaurant
What We Offer
- Competitive salaried compensation commensurate with experience
- Creative ownership over the menu and kitchen direction
- A supportive, community-rooted ownership team invested in your success
- The opportunity to build something — not just maintain it
To Apply
Send your resume and a brief note about yourself to Elmhurst@pourdestino.com. We’d love to hear about your background and what draws you to Pour Destino.
Work schedule
- Weekend availability
- Monday to Friday
- Holidays
Supplemental pay
- Bonus pay
Benefits
- Paid time off
- 401(k) matching
- 401(k)