A great restaurant doesn’t just run on good food — it runs on great leadership. And that leadership starts with a compelling restaurant manager cover letter that shows exactly why you're the right person for the job. 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to write a cover letter that highlights your leadership skills, experience, and passion for hospitality. You’ll find practical tips, real restaurant manager cover letter examples and samples to make your application stand out. And if you want a polished, professional look right from the start, we’ve also included some great cover letter templates you can adjust to your liking. 

Food Service Manager Cover Letter Sample

Deli Manager Cover Letter Template

Franchise Manager Cover Letter Example

See more examples like these

Keep reading to learn all our best tips: 

• Explore real restaurant manager cover letter samples
• Learn how to format your restaurant manager cover letter the right way
• Design a professional and clean restaurant manager cover letter header
• Write an attention-grabbing headline for your cover letter
• Use a personalized greeting to make a strong first impression
• Start with a compelling restaurant manager cover letter introduction
• Highlight your leadership skills and career achievements
• Use strong action verbs to show confidence and experience
• Wrap up with a clear and confident closing statement
• Steer clear of common restaurant manager cover letter mistakes
• Pair your cover letter with a tailored restaurant manager resume
• Find helpful resources for job-seeking restaurant professionals
• Get insights on restaurant manager salaries and job outlook

Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.

Franchise manager cover letter example

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Why does this cover letter example work?

• Easy-to-read layout: This cover letter is super clean and well-organized. The paragraphs are short, the structure flows logically, and it’s easy for the reader to scan. These are all great choices, especially since hiring managers often skim through tons of applications. An accessible layout that uses white space effectively is half the battle.
• Mentioning a professional recognition: The candidate does a great job highlighting a standout achievement — being recognized as the #1 Manager at Starbucks for beating sales targets. That kind of specific, impressive result really adds weight to their experience and shows potential employers that their skills made a tangible difference in their last job.

What could be improved?

• Establishing a connection between the candidate and the employer: There’s no real mention of why this person wants to work at KFC specifically. Do they love the brand? Appreciate the company culture? Have a personal tie to the mission or values? Adding just one or two lines about what draws them to KFC would make this letter feel way more personal and tailored.

Food service manager cover letter sample

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Why does this cover letter example work?

• Inclusion of quantifiable data: The candidate talks numbers, and that’s always a win. Managing food operations for 500 inmates and overseeing a hospital cafeteria serving 600 beds instantly gives the reader a sense of scale and responsibility. Numbers like that help paint a clear picture of what the applicant is capable of.
• Mentioning specific software proficiency: It’s a nice touch that they mentioned Wrike, Workzone, and Monday.com. That’s a smart move because it shows the applicant is tech-savvy and comfortable with project or team management tools — something that’s increasingly important, even in food service roles.

What could be improved?

• Conclusion could've been more impactful: The closing lines feel polite, but a bit too quiet. They don’t really pack a punch. A stronger finish — maybe expressing more excitement about the role or clearly inviting a conversation — would leave a better final impression. 
• Personalized greeting: Starting with “Dear Hiring Manager” is safe, but kind of impersonal. If the name of the person is available (even with a little research), using it would help the letter feel more thoughtful and tailored. Even something like “Dear Jeffrey’s Bistro Team” could work better if no name can be found.

Deli manager cover letter template

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Why does this cover letter example work?

• Emphasizing language skills: The candidate highlights fluency in German, proficiency in English, and some basic French. This is a huge asset, especially for a position that may involve interacting with diverse teams or customers. Language skills help set candidates apart, especially when working in multicultural environments, and it’s smart to bring this up early in the letter.
• Mentioning relevant certification: Being a Certified Professional Team Leader at Bartlett Mitchell, Inc. is a solid, relevant certification that strengthens the applicant's credibility. It shows the applicant has undergone specific training to be a leader, which ties directly into managing a deli team. Employers love seeing candidates with certification, as it proves they’ve invested in their skills and are serious about their career.

What could be improved?

• Headline could be more attention-grabbing: The subject line, “Application for the position of Deli Manager,” is clear but a bit bland. It could stand out more if it was more personalized or specific to the applicant’s strengths. Something like, “Experienced Deli Manager with Proven Leadership and Language Skills” would not only catch the reader's eye but also immediately show what sets this candidate apart.
• Writing about specific achievements: While the letter mentions responsibilities like managing teams and creating schedules, it could be stronger by including specific achievements or results. For example, did the applicant increase sales by a certain percentage, improve customer satisfaction, or streamline operations in some way? 

1. How to format your restaurant manager cover letter the right way

As a restaurant manager, you already know how important presentation is. Whether it’s the way tables are set or how your team greets guests, small details shape the whole experience. 

Your cover letter works the same way — it needs to be clean, well-structured, and easy to read to make a strong first impression.

Here’s how to get the format just right:

• Choose a simple, readable font: Stick with easy-to-read fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Keep the size between 11 and 12 points. Use black text on a white background — nothing fancy. 
• Leave enough space: Use standard 1-inch margins, and don’t cram your text together. Add a space between each paragraph. That white space gives the letter room to breathe and makes it easier for someone to quickly read through.
• Align everything to the left: It might be tempting to center things or get creative, but left alignment looks more professional and keeps things tidy. It’s easier for the hiring manager to scan and find what they need.
• Follow a familiar structure: Your cover letter should follow a clear path — start with a header, then an introduction, followed by a few short body paragraphs, and finish with a strong closing. This makes it easier for the reader to follow your story and see what you bring to the table.
• Keep it to one page: Just like a good shift schedule, it should be focused and efficient. One page is enough to share your key strengths and get the hiring manager interested without overloading them.
• Use bullet points (if it helps): If you have standout achievements — like boosting customer satisfaction scores or cutting food waste — use a few bullet points to highlight them. They’re easy to spot and help break up the text.
• Stick with short paragraphs: No one wants to read a huge block of text. Keep each paragraph short and to the point. That way, your letter stays engaging, and nothing gets lost in a wall of words.
• Let your personality come through: You work in hospitality — you know how to connect with people. So don’t be afraid to show a bit of warmth and enthusiasm. Keep it professional, but let your passion for great service and leadership show.

If formatting feels like a pain, no worries. You can always use one of our easy-to-use cover letter templates and avoid the headaches that come with adjusting margins and fonts.

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2. How to design a professional and clean restaurant manager cover letter header

Before the hiring manager even reads a word of your cover letter, their eyes will land on your header. 

The cover letter header is where they find your contact information and know exactly how to get in touch. 

Here’s what you should include in your header:

1. Your contact information

• Your name
• Your job title (optional)
• Phone number (with area code!)
• Professional email address
• LinkedIn profile or portfolio link (optional)
  
  

2. The recipient’s details

• Hiring manager’s name
• Their job title
• Company name and address

If you think the cover letter header is too small of a detail to matter, think again. Take a look at these two examples. You’ll see just how much of an impact a well-structured header can have on the overall impression you make:

Why is this ineffective? First, the phone number is missing the area code, which could make it difficult for someone to reach you, especially if they’re outside your city. Also, the recipient’s details are left blank — this makes it feel impersonal and like the letter was sent without much thought or effort. And that email address … 

What makes this example better? It’s clear and provides all the key information. The phone number includes the area code, and the email address sounds professional. The recipient’s details are also fully included, which shows that you took the time to properly research where your cover letter is heading. 

The header might not seem like much — but it actually does a lot of quiet work. It’s one of those little things that can make your cover letter feel put-together and professional without much effort. Get it right, and you're already off to a solid start.

3. How to write an attention-grabbing headline for your cover letter

We usually think of headlines as something you’d find in a newspaper or on a blog — but they’ve got a place in your cover letter too. And no, it’s not just a random trend or formatting trick. A good headline can actually do a lot of heavy lifting right at the top of your letter.

Why? Because hiring managers are busy. They’re skimming through stacks of job applications, and a sharp, focused headline helps yours stand out from the start. 

What makes a good cover letter headline?

• Make it specific: Generic lines like “Application for Restaurant Manager Role” won’t grab attention. Try something that shows your value.
• Use keywords from the job ad: Ideally, you'll use at least the name of the job position you want.
• Keep it short and skimmable: One line is plenty.
• Show confidence, not fluff: Skip vague phrases like “hardworking individual” or “fast learner.” Focus on what you’ve actually done.
• Include quantifiable data: Leading with an accomplishment supported by specific numbers always does the trick!

Let’s look at two very different examples and see which one actually does the job:

Why does this example fall flat? This example does the bare minimum. It sounds like a headline you can find on hundreds of other cover letters. There is nothing that makes it special or intriguing. In a competitive field like restaurant management, you need something that gives hiring managers a reason to keep reading.

What makes this example so much better? It gets straight to the point — and shows off something real. The number gives it weight. It’s specific, it’s confident, and it makes you want to keep reading. Compared to a plain headline, this one actually says something about what you bring to the table (literally and figuratively).

Every cover letter needs a headline — there’s no way around it. But it’s up to you to turn it into something that actually makes an impact. You can stick with something vague and forgettable, or take the chance to make it stand out and say something real.

4. How to use a personalized greeting to make a strong first impression

You can usually tell how good a restaurant is just by how the staff reacts when you walk in the door.

And it all starts with a greeting … just like your cover letter. 

A personalized greeting might seem like a small thing, but it shows that you actually care about who’s on the other end. It makes you seem like a thoughtful, genuine, and professional candidate — all before they even get to the first paragraph.

So, how do you write a good greeting? It's really simple: 

Scenario 1: You know the hiring manager's name

If this is your case, you don't have to do much. Keep the greeting straightforward and polite — just like in our examples: 

These examples may seem plain, but that’s the point — with a greeting, there’s no need to be fancy. You just want it to feel natural, polite, and easy to read.

Scenario 2: You don't know the recipient’s name

Before you put your hands in the air, try to do a bit of detective work. Here are a few ways you can try to track down the name of the person in charge of hiring:

• Check the job post: Sometimes the name is listed right there in the ad.
• Visit the restaurant’s website: Look at the "About Us" or "Team" pages. 
• Look on LinkedIn: Search for the restaurant’s company page and browse the list of employees.
• Call the restaurant: A quick, polite call asking, “May I ask who’s in charge of hiring for the restaurant manager position?” can do the trick.
• Ask around: If you have contacts in the industry or know someone who works at the restaurant, they might be able to help.

BBut if you’ve tried all these options and still don’t have a name (or maybe you just don’t have time to look for it), no worries — there are still plenty of ways to address a cover letter without one. For example, you can use one of these greetings:

As you can see, there are a lot of easy ways to get the greeting on your cover letter right. But there’s definitely one way to get it wrong. Using a phrase like “To Whom It May Concern” might have been common in the past, but now it just feels cold and impersonal. It’s more of a bad habit than a good practice.

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5. How to start with a compelling restaurant manager cover letter introduction

If your introduction is bland or generic, it’s easy for your cover letter to get lost in the shuffle. It doesn’t need to be dramatic or overly clever — it just needs to feel real. Something that sounds like you.

If you want your opening sentences to hook the reader immediately, consider using any (or all) of these elements: 

• Brief overview of your work history
• Your most significant accomplishment
• Rundown of your professional goals
• Any significant qualifications 
• Display of your enthusiasm for the job (and company)
• Impactful referral (if possible)

Instead of jumping straight into “I’m applying for…” or “Please accept this letter…,” try opening with what actually excites you about the role.

A few ways to kick things off:

• Share a quick, honest reason you’re drawn to the role.
• Mention something about the restaurant that speaks to you.
• Or, start with something personal.

A great intro doesn’t try too hard. It just connects. It gives the hiring manager a reason to care and to keep reading. That's it.

What makes this introduction weak? It doesn’t show why the applicant is excited about this restaurant or what they specifically bring to the table. It feels like it could have been sent to any restaurant — there’s no personal touch or enthusiasm. To make an impact, you need to show why you’re genuinely interested and why you’re the right person for the job. A little more detail and personality will go a long way!

Why is this so much better? This intro works because it starts with something specific about the restaurant that excites the applicant. Then it ties in a relevant achievement and, which adds credibility without sounding braggy. It’s clear, it’s focused, and it feels personal. The hiring manager gets a sense of who this person is, why they’re passionate about the role, and what they can bring to the table, all in just a few sentences.

Tips for newcomers to the position

Not having direct experience as a restaurant manager doesn’t mean you have nothing to say. It just means your intro might focus more on potential and transferable skills than a past title. 

Here’s how you can still make a strong opening:

• If you're transitioning from another field: “After several years managing a busy retail team, I’m ready for a new challenge — and restaurant leadership feels like the right next step. I’m used to fast-paced shifts, problem-solving on the fly, and keeping customers happy under pressure.”
• If you're a student or fresh grad: “As a recent hospitality grad who’s spent weekends hosting and learning the ropes at local cafés, I’m excited to grow into a role where I can combine my studies with hands-on leadership.”
• If you’re coming from an internship or entry-level position: “After my internship at Riverside Grill, I knew I wanted to keep growing in this industry. I loved the rush of dinner service, but even more than that — I loved helping the team work like clockwork.”

Here’s a full cover letter introduction example from a hypothetical candidate who decided to switch careers from hotel management to restaurant management:

What makes this example so impactful? This example connects the candidate's past experience to the new role in a way that feels natural. Instead of just listing skills, they explain why they're excited about the change and show how their hotel management experience will help them succeed in restaurant management. It’s personal, professional, and gets straight to the point — exactly what a hiring manager wants to see.

By kicking off your cover letter with an introduction that really showcases your skills, passion, and excitement for the job, you can grab the hiring manager’s attention right away. 

6. How to highlight your leadership skills and career achievements

So, the hiring manager is hooked by the opening of the cover letter — now it’s time to show exactly what you can do and how you can help your future employer succeed. 

The goal here is to use 2 to 4 body paragraphs to answer a few key questions:

• How will you add value to the team or company?
• Can you demonstrate your relevant skills through specific accomplishments? 
• What makes you stand out from the competition? 
• What's your motivation for working for this particular employer?

How can you tell which skills are the ones to mention? 

Here’s the secret: focus on what’s relevant to running a restaurant. Even better, focus on what’s relevant to the specific restaurant you’re applying to. It might sound obvious, but it really is that simple.

A good place to start is by reading the job description. What are the requirements? What does the day-to-day look like? It usually clearly outlines the key skills needed for the role. From there, pull out experiences and skills that directly align with what’s being asked.

Here are some skills to consider including:

But running a restaurant isn’t just about numbers and processes. It’s about working with people — both your team and your customers. These hard skills are invaluable assets for any restaurant manager, but when it comes down to it, leading a team is all about your soft skills.

Now you have your skills selected. But you can't just give a bullet-point list and call it a cover letter. 

Those skills need to be put into a specific context and supported by quantifiable data (ideally). If you don’t have access to such data, you can still tell a compelling story. Write about specific examples of challenges you faced, how you handled them, and what results you achieved. 

Tips for newcomers to the position

Even without years of work experience, fresh grads, students, and those changing careers can draw from a wide range of experiences that show readiness for a restaurant manager role.

Here are a few examples to pull from that can help shape your cover letter:

• School projects and group work
• Volunteer work
• Campus leadership roles
• Internships
• Part-time jobs or side hustles

This is what your restaurant manager cover letter can look like: 

To sum it all up, the purpose of these paragraphs is simple: prove you're the right fit for the job. Get specific about your achievements, use numbers to back up your success, and make sure your experience matches what the job needs. 

7. How to use strong action verbs to show confidence and experience

Here’s something that doesn’t get talked about enough: how you describe what you’ve done in your job can matter just as much as what you did.

Action verbs are powerful little words that show you were active in your job. They tell the reader that you didn’t just show up — you actually did stuff. You fixed things, came up with ideas, led a team. These kinds of words help the person reading your cover letter see you in action, not just talking about what you did.

And one last tip? Try to mix them in naturally when you talk about what you’ve done. Don’t force it. One or two per paragraph is plenty. It’s not about sounding fancy — it’s about sounding like someone who gets results.

8. How to wrap up with a clear and confident closing statement

You’ve said a lot by now — your experience, your wins, your excitement for the role. But before you hit send, there’s still one last piece: how you sign off.

The closing paragraph of your cover letter deserves your full attention because it’s your last opportunity to make a strong impact.

Even if you’re tempted to rush through it, don’t. A strong ending can tip the scales in your favor.

Here’s what your closing paragraph should do:

• Thank the reader for their time and attention
• Quickly highlight your top strengths again
• Show that you’re excited about the job
• Invite them to reach out or set up an interview
• Let them know how they can get in touch
• Sign off with a professional but friendly goodbye

Why doesn't this work? It just feels flat. Saying “I believe I could be a good fit” sounds unsure — like you're not fully convinced yourself. There's no spark, no real excitement about the job, and nothing personal to help you stand out. Plus, it kind of ends without direction. A good closing should give the reader a nudge to take the next step.

Why does this one hit the mark? It sounds confident without trying too hard. You can tell the person is excited about the job, and they make it clear what they’re bringing to the team. They remind the reader of their strengths, say they’re ready to talk more, and make it super easy to get in touch. It’s a solid, friendly wrap-up that feels like it came from a real person.

A good closing statement ties everything together. It leaves the hiring manager with a strong impression of who you are, what you can do, and why they should reach out. Just like in a great meal — the final bite matters.

9. How to steer clear of common restaurant manager cover letter mistakes

Writing a cover letter isn’t always easy — especially when you’re trying to strike the right tone and show off your skills all at once. And sometimes, even a great cover letter can fall flat because of a few common missteps.

The good news? These mistakes are super easy to avoid once you know what to look out for. Here’s a breakdown of the usual suspects:

• Using the same generic letter for every job: Hiring managers can spot a copy-paste job from a mile away. If your letter could be sent to five different restaurants without changing a word, it’s probably too vague. Take a few minutes to tailor each cover letter to the job and the restaurant. Mention their name, something you like about their place, and why you're a great fit for them specifically.
• Repeating your resume word for word: Your cover letter should add to your application — not just rehash your work history. Pick one or two standout moments from your resume and go a bit deeper. Tell a short story or explain what you learned and how it helped you grow as a manager.
• Writing in a stiff, overly formal tone: Restaurant work is all about people — and your letter should reflect that. Be professional, sure — but write like a human. Use your natural voice. It’s okay to sound warm and friendly as long as you stay respectful.
• Forgetting to include a call to action: If you don’t let the hiring manager know you’re excited to chat more or how to reach you, it can feel like a dead end. Close with a quick thank-you, show your enthusiasm, and say you're looking forward to the next step. Drop your contact info so it’s easy to reach you.
• Spelling mistakes or grammar slips: Typos can make it look like you didn’t put much care into your application. Read your letter out loud, or ask a friend to give it a once-over.
• Going on too long: Most hiring managers don’t have time to read a full-page essay. If your letter feels like a wall of text, it might get skipped altogether. So, keep things short, clear, and easy to scan.
• Not showing what makes you different: If your letter sounds like every other one in the pile, it won’t stick. Lean into your experience, your wins, your approach to leading a team. Share something that sets you apart — even if it’s small.

Mistakes happen, but they don’t have to ruin a great application. With just a little extra care, your cover letter can stay focused, personal, and mistake-free. And when it does? You’re already one step ahead of the competition.

10. How to pair your cover letter with a tailored restaurant manager resume

We’ve done plenty of talking about cover letters, but the truth is, if you want your job application to be complete, you can’t overlook your restaurant manager resume.

So, how do these two documents work together?

Your resume and cover letter might seem like two separate pieces, but they’re really two sides of the same coin:

• The resume is all about giving the facts — job titles, dates, achievements, numbers. It’s clean, quick to scan, and gets straight to the point. 
• The cover letter, on the other hand, adds personality and context. It explains why those facts matter, how they all connect, and why you’re excited about this specific job. 

Where the resume says what you’ve done, the cover letter says why it matters — and together, they tell a complete, compelling story.

Matching visually matters too

It’s not just about content — the look and feel of both documents should match too. Here are a few tips on how to make your cover letter and resume visually cohesive:

• Use the same font and size across both documents: This helps your application feel neat and unified. Stick with clean, professional fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in 10–12 pt size.
• Stick to the same color scheme (if you’re using one — simple is best): If you decide to use a pop of color, keep it consistent between your resume and cover letter. Just one or two subtle shades can add style without being distracting.
• Align your margins and spacing so they look clean side-by-side: Set your margins to the same size on both documents so they line up visually. Keep spacing between sections consistent to avoid a cluttered look.
• Keep your name and contact info in the same style on both documents: Your name, email, phone number, and LinkedIn (if included) should appear the same way in both files. 
• Save both files as PDFs to keep the formatting consistent when opened: PDFs make sure your fonts, layout, and spacing stay exactly how you designed them. This avoids any weird formatting surprises when your documents are opened on a different computer.

Getting your cover letter and resume to match can feel like a bit of a puzzle. If it’s giving you a hard time, using a ready-made cover letter template can take a lot of the pressure off. Many of them are designed as a set (with a matching resume template), so you get a clean, professional look without having to mess around with formatting for hours.

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11. Where to find helpful resources for job-seeking restaurant professionals

Looking for a new job can feel like a full-time job in itself. Between figuring out where to search, how to stand out, and staying on top of all the applications, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Here's a quick list of resources that can make things a bit easier for you:

• Industry-specific job boards: If you want to keep your search focused on hospitality, start here. Sites like Poached Jobs, Restaurant Careers, and Culinary Agents are packed with listings for restaurant roles — from entry-level to management. These platforms are made for people in the industry, so you're more likely to find jobs that actually match your skills and interests.
• General job search websites: Don't skip the big-name sites just because they cast a wide net. Places like Indeed, Glassdoor, SimplyHired, and Monster have restaurant manager jobs too — you just need to do a little digging. Use filters like location, job title, and experience level to narrow things down. 
• Professional associations: Joining or even just following groups like the National Restaurant Association (NRA), American Culinary Federation (ACF), or International Food and Beverage Management Association (IFBMA) can be a smart move. They offer everything from job boards and certifications to training programs and updates on what’s new in the industry. 
• Networking: Hospitality is a people-first industry, so connections really matter. Platforms like LinkedIn aren’t just for corporate roles — they’re great for restaurant professionals too. You can follow restaurant groups, connect with hiring managers, join conversations, and even find job postings. A quick message to the right person can sometimes open more doors than a dozen applications.
• Hospitality recruiting agencies: If you'd rather not do all the hunting yourself, try a recruiting agency. Companies like Horizon Hospitality, Goodwin Recruiting, and Gecko Hospitality specialize in placing hospitality professionals in roles that fit their background and goals.
• Continuous education: Adding a new certification or brushing up on your skills can really help your resume stand out. Online platforms like Coursera, Udemy, Khan Academy, and edX offer courses in everything from leadership and communication to restaurant finance and customer service. 

Finding the right restaurant manager job can take time, but you’ve already taken some big steps by working on your cover letter and resume. Now, it’s just about putting those tools to good use, and knowing where to look. Keep going, you’ve got this.