The General Manager is responsible for developing and operating a profitable restaurant, where the quality of food, service and ambience are continually challenged and improved; and where an environment that fosters creativity, free thinking and intelligent decision making is encouraged. The GM has overall responsibility for all aspects of the restaurant; in particular as related to sales, growth of the business, cost management and staff development. The GM is ultimately responsible for guest advocacy.
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Developing a cohesive team of managers and chefs, and managing them to work toward the common goals of the restaurant.
- Possessing a high level of initiative and drive to do whatever is necessary to build and run a successful operation.
- Working closely with management team to create a team atmosphere among staff, which is fun and professional.
- Leading by example.
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Facilitating weekly management meetings.
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Establishing clear communications along all lines within the business.
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Taking a long-term view with regard to guest satisfaction, making every decision based on what is best for the guest.
- Working with the management team to increase guest counts and to develop a loyal base of satisfied, return customers.
- Solving problems so that each guest will want to return.
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Ensuring that management team is an integral part of the hospitality equation by maintaining an active presence in the dining room through regular table visits with guests, getting to know guests, finding out what is important to them, what they like and what they don’t.
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Remaining focused on the importance of creating long-term, loyal customers who return again and again; this is at the heart of the business and is critical to our success.
The GM is responsible for ensuring that the restaurant is operating at or above company standards. The GM must operate the restaurant in accordance with all operating priorities. The GM must pay attention to detail in all areas of the operation, including food, service, hospitality, training and development, security, safety, cleanliness, sanitation and physical structure. Specifically:
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Ensuring all chefs, managers and hourly employees adhere to our standards regarding quality of product, service and hospitality.
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Ensuring that a safe and clean environment is the norm, and all products are properly handled.
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Regularly following up discussions of guest and staff feedback regarding the above.
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Running high quality FOH pre-shift meetings for consistent communication of our operational standards and goals.
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Running high quality BOH pre-shift meetings for consistent communication of our operational standards and goals.
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Conducting weekly management meetings to ensure consistent communication of our operational standards and goals to both the FOH and BOH managers.
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Ensuring that company-training programs are effectively administered for all departments.
The GM is responsible for generating strong financial performance for the health of the restaurant and the company. The GM is responsible for ensuring that the restaurant meets and exceeds budgeted financial goals. Specifically:
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Developing a yearly restaurant budget for review by the operations team.
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Monitoring and maintaining all cost control centers; further development of store-specific cost savings initiatives ,and strong follow through on all standard systems.
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Analyzing monthly profit and loss statements, developing action plans from them, implementing them and following through on plans.
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Overseeing all aspects of purchasing (ordering) within the restaurant.
The GM is responsible for overseeing all aspects of restaurant staffing, from management levels through hourly positions. Specifically:
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Establishing and maintaining appropriate staffing levels and remaining abreast of any changes that may impact staffing needs.
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Overseeing and participating in the recruiting and hiring of high quality employees, including managers.
- Establishing a system to ensure the proper processing of all newly hired employees to include application, interview evaluation, reference check, signed job descriptions, employee data sheet, federal and state tax forms and I-9 form. No employee may begin work without presenting legitimate identification, which shows that he/she is allowed to work in the United States.
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Ensuring thorough and complete training of all employees through implementation of all company-training programs.
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Continually assessing the results of all training programs and developing action plans to address specific issues and concerns, and following through on the progress and results of these action plans.
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Continually assessing the status of the current management team, developing action plans to address the developmental issues of each team member and following through on each manager’s progress. Consistently Identifying staff from within for promotions and working with those individuals to create career development possibilities.
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Minimizing employee and management turnover.
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Providing coaching, mentoring and developing the management team as well as hourly employees; this is critical for the success of the restaurant and the company.
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Working with the management team to determine appropriate staffing levels.
- Being aware of staffing trends, upcoming seasonal business changes, and any other events or issues that may have an impact on the business.
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Producing Sales Projections and Labor Plans weekly.
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Completing quarterly performance reviews of all management staff (2 formal / 2 informal).
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Ensuring that performance reviews of all hourly employees are completed bi-yearly.
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Maintaining accurate employee files, including thorough, signed documentation for any and all disciplinary incidents.
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Providing thorough documentation on all incidents; including counseling sessions, accidents/injuries with regards to workman’s comp, and termination reports.
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Serving as the company spokesperson, emphasizing company goals, philosophies and values to all levels of management, staff and guests.
- Ensuring proper communication between the management team as well as staff.
- Remaining apprised of all happenings in and around the restaurant.
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Maintaining an Open Door policy as the norm.
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Professionally interfacing with all local media contacts, vendors and landlords,
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Representing the company in legal matters as necessary.
- Possessing a working knowledge of our technical systems.
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Being proficient in all functions of the POS system, and proficient in producing accurate financial and operational reports using the back office system.
The GM is responsible for the daily upkeep of the physical plant, specifically:
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Providing a daily walk through of the restaurant to determine areas, which need attention or repair.
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Maintaining a running punch list of “need to have” as well as “nice to have” items which are handled in a timely fashion as appropriate.
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Planning necessary upgrades in a timely and well thought out way.
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Evaluating all expenditures through the exercise of Capital Project Proposal process.
The GM is responsible for the successful implementation of all company-marketing initiatives that are executed in restaurant, specifically:
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Providing all menu maintenance within the restaurant.
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Working with the Senior Operation Executives in developing and executing quarterly local marketing plans.
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Keeping the entire restaurant staff well informed on all marketing efforts, timely and accurate utilization of promotional materials, and producing feedback and information for evaluation and planning.
LEONARDO’S
Saluti
Come Right in. Don’t be shy. We were the guys behind the most beloved Italian American Restaurant on the east Cost Called Vinny Testa’s Bar Ristorante. This is our new version 2.0 brought to you in 2026. We have always been restaurants where quality and quantity go hand in hand. We hope you’re hungry because our home cooked, robust dishes are for people who love to eat great food at affordable prices.
Remember those family dinners from your youth; where everyone was talking and drinking over each other and the food just keeps coming. That is what we are all about. Sunday Italian feasts 7 days a week.
Sit down and tuck your napkin under your shirt and let us tell you about the best dining deal in all of New England. Start with our head of roast garlic and homemade focaccia to spread it on. Your servers and bartenders become part of your party as they explain our food, proper portioning and today’s extra offerings and taking your order.
Once you have decided what to eat, gaze at your surroundings of family pictures and memorabilia lining the walls. Watch the giant plates of top-of-the-line food and no we didn’t make a mistake with their enormity and no they aren’t part of the ownership its all the same and you are treated like our partners and owners. Everything is big including our doggie bags for tomorrow’s lunch/dinner.
All the way to your homemade deserts and espresso. No one ever leaves hungry. Your check is less than you thought for what you think and then you can play our version of Italian bingo and win your dinner for free. If your number from your table comes up your dinner is on us.
Mission Statement:
We are a restaurant reminiscent of the family-style Italian restaurants found in lower in lower Manhattan, Brooklyn from the 1940’s with modern cooking techniques and flavors. We welcome our guests with open arms, lavishing attentive service, along with the familiar, comforting Southern Italian specialties. Abundant portions for all but “family-style” dining we offer for any size party. We specialize in sharing all our food. Our atmosphere is with rich woods and decorative interiors with red and blacked tablecloths; hand painted murals, photos and Italian artifacts cover the walls. Music from the big band era fills out the atmosphere with memories of yesterday. Everyone will feel right at home.
HISTORY
Leonardo Testa is the son of famous restauranteur Vinny Testa. After many years he finally cobbled enough money to open his own restaurant/bar. He has all his father’s recipe’s and has updated all of them to today in 2026. Many of his father’s old favorites are here plus many new ones. Mangia.
