Hooked on the Water is a five-concept lakefront hospitality destination opening late Fall 2026 on Lake Murray in Lexington, South Carolina. Fine dining upstairs, a pub downstairs, an outdoor bar, an amphitheater, and a private events space — all on one waterfront property inside a 66-acre residential retreat community.
We are hiring the Executive Chef who will build this kitchen from the ground up.
You will write the menus, hire the brigade, set the specs, and own the numbers across all five concepts. The culinary direction is Southern cuisine built on classical French technique, with Lowcountry sourcing. Some recipes and programs are in place — you will refine them and make them yours.
WHAT YOU WILL OWN
- Menu development and execution across fine dining, pub, outdoor bar, and private events
- Hiring, training, and developing the full back-of-house team
- Food cost, plate costing, and cross-utilization across concepts
- Vendor relationships, ordering, and inventory
- Health, safety, and SCDA compliance
- Daily execution and quality standards in both a fine dining room and a high-volume casual room
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- Multi-concept experience — you have run fine dining and casual service at the same time
- Strong Southern cuisine background paired with classical technique
- Demonstrated cost control and a cross-utilization mindset
- Real leadership. You develop cooks, you do not just direct them.
- Pre-opening experience is a significant advantage
- Formal culinary training or equivalent kitchen pedigree
COMPENSATION
$85,000 - $95,000 base, plus a quarterly performance bonus tied to food cost, labor, guest satisfaction, and team retention. Relocation assistance is negotiable for the right candidate.
WHY LAKE MURRAY
Twenty minutes from downtown Columbia, on the water, in a market that is growing fast and underserved at this level. If you are in a large market and tired of the high rent, the traffic, and the tourist grind, this is a real quality-of-life move without stepping down in kitchen ambition.
OUR PROCESS
Phone conversation, in-person interview, then a practical cook-off.
To apply, message me directly here or send a resume to [email protected]
Andy Marchant
Managing Partner, Hooked on the Water
110 Anglers Way, Lake Murray, Lexington, SC
Pay: $85,500.00 - $105,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
