Head Chef – Mediterranean Lounge
2 days ago
London
Head Chef – Mediterranean Lounge Location: 290 Chase Road, Southgate, London, N14 6HA Position: Full-Time Start Date: To be confirmed #About Us We are a new mid-to-upscale Mediterranean lounge based in Southgate, bringing together the flavors and culinary traditions of the Mediterranean with influences from Turkish, Greek, Italian, Lebanese, and other Mediterranean cuisines. Our concept combines quality food with a sophisticated lounge atmosphere, cocktails, and entertainment. We offer live music on Friday and Saturday evenings, together with late dining on Friday and Saturday, creating a vibrant destination for both dining and socializing. We are looking for an experienced and creative Head Chef to join our team and play a key role in establishing the kitchen, developing our menu, and setting the culinary standards for the venue. The Role As Head Chef, you will take overall responsibility for the kitchen and work closely with the management team to develop a distinctive Mediterranean menu that reflects the identity of the lounge. This is an exciting opportunity for a chef who is passionate about Mediterranean cuisine and enjoys combining traditional flavors with modern presentation and techniques. You will lead a small kitchen team of approximately 3–4 people, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, hygiene, and service. Key Responsibilities * Lead and manage the kitchen team on a day-to-day basis. * Develop and create an exciting Mediterranean-inspired menu with influences from Turkish, Greek, Italian, Lebanese, and other Mediterranean cuisines. * Work with management to establish the culinary identity and style of the restaurant. * Develop new dishes, specials, and seasonal menu items. * Ensure all dishes are prepared and presented to a consistently high standard. * Oversee food preparation and kitchen operations. * Demonstrate strong knowledge and experience across grill, seafood, pasta, mezze, and general Mediterranean cuisine. * Manage food ordering, stock levels, portion control, and kitchen inventory. * Minimize food waste while maintaining quality and consistency. * Maintain excellent standards of food hygiene, cleanliness, and health and safety. * Ensure appropriate food storage, preparation, and allergen procedures are followed. * Manage kitchen organization and ensure the team operates efficiently during busy services. * Train, motivate, and supervise kitchen staff. * Work closely with front-of-house and management teams to ensure smooth service. * Maintain consistency during busy evening and late-night services, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays. * Contribute ideas to continuously improve the menu, kitchen operation, and overall guest experience. The Ideal Candidate We are looking for a qualified and experienced Head Chef with a strong background in Mediterranean cuisine. The successful candidate will have: * Proven experience as a Head Chef or senior chef. * Strong experience with Mediterranean cuisine, particularly Turkish, Greek, Italian, Lebanese, or similar cuisines. * A genuine passion for food and menu development. * Excellent knowledge of grilling, seafood, pasta, mezze, and Mediterranean cooking techniques. * Experience creating and developing menus. * Strong organizational and stock-control skills. * The ability to manage and motivate a small kitchen team. * The ability to remain calm and organized during busy services. * Excellent attention to detail and presentation. * A strong understanding of food safety, hygiene, allergens, and kitchen health and safety requirements. * Relevant food hygiene certification and any other certificates required to work professionally in a commercial kitchen. * A professional approach and commitment to maintaining high culinary standards. What We Offer * The opportunity to take a leading culinary role in a new Mediterranean lounge concept. * Significant input into the creation and development of the menu. * The opportunity to build and lead a small, dedicated kitchen team. * A mid-to-upscale dining environment. * A creative setting combining food, cocktails, live music, and late-night dining. * The opportunity to establish the kitchen's standards and culinary identity from the beginning. Start date: To be confirmed. If you're an experienced chef with a passion for Mediterranean cuisine and want to play a major role in creating something distinctive in Southgate, we'd love to hear from you.