Chef

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 [email protected]. 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)