Head Chef – North Italian Regional Osteria

Surry Hills, Sydney | Full-time | $80,000–$100,000 + Super, depending on skills & experience

We are a long-established, family-run North Italian Osteria in Surry Hills, specialising in the regional food traditions of Emilia-Romagna.

We’re looking for an experienced Head Chef to lead our kitchen and help shape its next chapter.

This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who loves regional Italian cooking, understands busy restaurant service and believes a Head Chef should lead from the front.

Our food is built around organic seasonal produce, traditional techniques and handmade pasta produced in our dedicated Pasta Lab. We also have our own biodynamic vineyard and farm in the Hunter Valley, supplying the Osteria with fresh seasonal produce and biodynamic lamb, alongside the natural wines we produce there.

The Role

You’ll take responsibility for kitchen service, quality and consistency, team leadership and training, menu development, food and labour costs, ordering, stock control and kitchen systems.

We’re looking for someone who combines solid cooking skills with strong leadership. You should be comfortable on the pans, confident running the pass through busy services, and willing to jump into any section when the team needs you.

You’ll also work closely with the owners on seasonal menu development,



testing new dishes and preparing food for photography, events and marketing.

What We’re Looking For

- Head Chef experience, or an accomplished Senior Sous ready to step up
- Strong Italian or European restaurant background
- Excellent pasta cookery and sauce knowledge
- Experience leading busy services of up to 120 covers
- Good understanding of food cost, labour and stock control
- Calm, organised and collaborative leadership
- Genuine interest in organic produce, sustainability and regional Italian food

What We Offer
- $80,000–$100,000 + super, depending on skills and experience
- Performance bonus opportunity
- Great team and supportive, hands-on owners
- Established family business with more than 20 years of history
- Staff meals and food & wine discounts
- Access to fresh produce, biodynamic lamb and natural wines from our Hunter Valley farm and vineyard
- Genuine input into menus and the future direction of the Osteria
- Long-term opportunity with room to grow

If you’re a chef who enjoys being on the tools as much as leading the team, we’d like to hear from you. Apply through Indeed or send your CV and a short introduction to [email protected].

Pay: $80,501.81 – $105,969.95 per year

Benefits

- Employee discount
- Free drinks
- Maternity leave
- Visa sponsorship

Work Location: In person

📌 Head Chef/Kitchen Manager (Surry Hills)
🏢 Pasta Emilia
📍 Surry Hills