OPT Restaurant Manager Jobs
Restaurant Manager jobs on OPT are available, but most openings are with independent restaurants or regional chains that have sponsored F-1 workers before. Your OPT work authorization is employer-specific, so lining up a sponsor before your EAD expires is the priority.
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Get Access To All JobsCompany Description
Eataly is the world’s largest artisanal Italian food and beverage marketplace! Eataly is not a chain; each Eataly is different, with its own character and own theme – but all with the same aim... for our guests to:
- EAT authentic Italian food at our restaurants, cafés and to-go counters
- SHOP a selection of high-quality Italian, local and homemade products
- LEARN through our classes and our team’s product knowledge
Job Description
The Restaurant Manager assists the Restaurant Food and Beverage Manager in the day-to-day operations of Eataly’s full-service restaurants. Reports to the Restaurant Food and Beverage Manager and oversees front-of-house restaurant staff including servers, bartenders, food runners, hosts, bussers and barbacks.
- Supports the Restaurant Food and Beverage Manager with hiring, assigning, training, evaluating and terminating employees
- Documents, investigates, escalates and resolves all employee and guests incidents
- Ensures exceptional service standards are consistently met and that activities are carried out effectively
- Inspects dining room and storage areas to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations
- Estimates front-of-house food and beverage needs, and supervises intake orders to ensure specifications
- Reviews financial information such as sales, inventory and costs to monitor budget
- Meets with dining room and bar personnel to plan restaurant activities, special events, share information, etc.
- Performs other duties as required or assigned
Qualifications
- 2+ years of experiencing leading or managing a front-of-house restaurant team
- Understanding of steps of service
- Outstanding communication, leadership and problem-solving skills
- Bachelor’s Degree or Associate’s Degree in Restaurant Management or Hospitality preferred
- Knowledge of Italian cuisine and beverage highly preferred
Job Requirements
- Availability to work onsite with a flexible schedule often including evenings, weekends and holidays
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
- Ability to exert well-paced mobility for up to 8 hours, including standing, walking, bending and squatting
Compensation
The annual compensation for this position is $70,000 - $80,000
Additional Information
Benefits and Perks
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Parental Leave
- 401K with match or RRSP
- Free family meal daily
- Discounts at Eataly
- Classes on products and Italian cuisine
- Referral bonus program
- and more!
Company Description
Eataly is the world’s largest artisanal Italian food and beverage marketplace! Eataly is not a chain; each Eataly is different, with its own character and own theme – but all with the same aim... for our guests to:
- EAT authentic Italian food at our restaurants, cafés and to-go counters
- SHOP a selection of high-quality Italian, local and homemade products
- LEARN through our classes and our team’s product knowledge
Job Description
The Restaurant Manager assists the Restaurant Food and Beverage Manager in the day-to-day operations of Eataly’s full-service restaurants. Reports to the Restaurant Food and Beverage Manager and oversees front-of-house restaurant staff including servers, bartenders, food runners, hosts, bussers and barbacks.
- Supports the Restaurant Food and Beverage Manager with hiring, assigning, training, evaluating and terminating employees
- Documents, investigates, escalates and resolves all employee and guests incidents
- Ensures exceptional service standards are consistently met and that activities are carried out effectively
- Inspects dining room and storage areas to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations
- Estimates front-of-house food and beverage needs, and supervises intake orders to ensure specifications
- Reviews financial information such as sales, inventory and costs to monitor budget
- Meets with dining room and bar personnel to plan restaurant activities, special events, share information, etc.
- Performs other duties as required or assigned
Qualifications
- 2+ years of experiencing leading or managing a front-of-house restaurant team
- Understanding of steps of service
- Outstanding communication, leadership and problem-solving skills
- Bachelor’s Degree or Associate’s Degree in Restaurant Management or Hospitality preferred
- Knowledge of Italian cuisine and beverage highly preferred
Job Requirements
- Availability to work onsite with a flexible schedule often including evenings, weekends and holidays
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
- Ability to exert well-paced mobility for up to 8 hours, including standing, walking, bending and squatting
Compensation
The annual compensation for this position is $70,000 - $80,000
Additional Information
Benefits and Perks
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Parental Leave
- 401K with match or RRSP
- Free family meal daily
- Discounts at Eataly
- Classes on products and Italian cuisine
- Referral bonus program
- and more!
See all 62+ OPT Restaurant Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Restaurant Manager Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Restaurant Manager
Target multi-unit operators and regional chains
Independent restaurants rarely have HR infrastructure to handle OPT sponsorship. Regional chains and multi-unit operators have dedicated HR teams familiar with work authorization paperwork, making them far more likely to sponsor F-1 employees into management roles.
Lead with your hospitality degree when applying
Restaurant Manager roles qualify for OPT only when the work is directly related to your degree field. Hospitality management, food service administration, and business degrees with a hospitality focus are the clearest connections. Make that link explicit in every application.
Start the sponsorship conversation before the offer stage
Raising OPT authorization after an offer creates friction. Mention your F-1 status and EAD timeline in the first interview, framing it as a straightforward administrative step the employer handles, not a complex legal burden on their part.
Document your management experience in quantifiable terms
Employers evaluating OPT candidates for management roles want proof of impact. Quantify team sizes managed, revenue overseen, or cost reductions achieved. Concrete numbers reduce hesitation from employers unfamiliar with sponsoring international candidates.
Apply during off-peak hiring windows for faster decisions
Restaurant hiring spikes around spring and late summer but decision-making slows. Applying in January through March or September through October means less competition and faster turnaround from managers who have more time to evaluate your candidacy.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility if your degree qualifies
If your hospitality or food service degree came from a STEM-designated program, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. This significantly increases your appeal to employers who want long-term management hires without immediate H-1B visa pressure.
Restaurant Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Restaurant Manager jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, if the role is directly related to your degree field. A Restaurant Manager position tied to a hospitality management, food service, or business degree typically satisfies the OPT practical training requirement. The connection between your coursework and the job duties needs to be clear and documentable for your DSO and employer records.
How do I find Restaurant Manager employers who are open to sponsoring OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and surfaces Restaurant Manager jobs from employers who have a history of sponsoring international candidates. Browsing through Migrate Mate saves time by filtering out roles where OPT authorization is unlikely to be accepted, letting you focus your applications where they have the best chance.
Can I work as a Restaurant Manager on OPT without a formal job offer letter?
No. OPT is employer-specific, meaning your work authorization is tied to a specific employer and role. You need a valid job offer and your EAD card before you can begin working. Your employer also needs to be registered in E-Verify if you are on a STEM OPT extension, so confirm their E-Verify status before accepting an offer.
What happens to my OPT status if the restaurant I work for closes or I get laid off?
You enter a 60-day grace period from your last day of employment. During that window, you can find a new qualifying Restaurant Manager position, apply for a change of status, or prepare to depart the U.S. You must report any employment change to your DSO promptly, as failing to do so can jeopardize your F-1 record.
Will working as a Restaurant Manager qualify me for H-1B sponsorship later?
It depends on how the role is classified. Restaurant Manager positions can qualify as H-1B specialty occupations if the employer documents a degree requirement in a specific field such as hospitality management or business. Generalist management roles without a defined degree requirement are harder to support under H-1B. Choosing employers who already sponsor H-1B workers improves your long-term options.