Director of Food And Beverage

The Lake is a new private social club opening in September 2026 in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. Spanning 26,000 square feet, the clubhouse will feature a classic brick-and-limestone exterior paired with stylish contemporary interiors, creating an atmosphere that is both elegant and inviting. Designed to foster a vibrant, welcoming community, The Lake will center around an exceptional food and beverage program and bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds who share a love of gathering with family and friends.

The club will offer three distinct restaurants, including a French-inspired brasserie, a British American restaurant, and an Italian trattoria. In addition, members will enjoy two cocktail bars, a members’ wine cellar, a roof terrace, three guest rooms, and a small spa, all thoughtfully designed to create a dynamic and curated experience.

Topography is a hospitality company founded by Liam Krehbiel in 2021 that develops and operates a collection of luxurious hotels and clubs, with a vision to build a world-class company known for excellence in guest experience, employee satisfaction, financial performance, and environmental stewardship. The Lake will be Topography’s first property to open, with additional projects in development across Wisconsin, New England, and North Carolina;

in addition to leading Topography, Liam is also the co-owner of Ballyfin, a family-owned five-star country hotel in Ireland that was awarded three Michelin Keys in 2024 and named the best country hotel in Ireland and the United Kingdom by Travel & Leisure.

The Lake’s restaurants will honor timeless classics across three distinct types of cuisine. We believe truly exceptional hospitality is defined by the quality of food, beverage, and service—delivered with the precision, warmth, and personality of the world’s best independent restaurants. Rather than replicating conventional luxury club dining, our ambition is to exceed it by creating experiences that feel personal, intentional, and deeply memorable.

Leaders at The Lake are expected to champion standards of food, beverage, and service that are:

• Chef- and craft-driven
  , not formulaic
• Technically excellent
  , yet warm and human
• Consistently refined
  , without becoming rigid or impersonal

This philosophy must be evident in every interaction, from the quality of ingredients and cooking to beverage execution, pacing of service, staff knowledge, tone, and attention to detail.

The Director of Food & Beverage will partner closely with the General Manager and Executive Chef to deliver a cohesive, best-in‑class dining and beverage program that exceeds member expectations while maintaining strong financial performance and operational discipline. The role requires a leader who excels at people development, service excellence, and cross‑functional collaboration in a multi‑venue, luxury environment.

• Oversee all front‑of‑house food and beverage operations, including three restaurants, two bars, two private dining rooms, and events.
• Ensure consistently exceptional service standards, hospitality culture, and member experience across all dining venues.
• Establish, document, and enforce service standards, operating procedures, and best practices.
• Partner with the Executive Chef to ensure seamless coordination between kitchen and service teams.
• Maintain compliance with all health, safety, and alcohol service regulations.

• Lead the development and execution of wine, spirits, cocktail, and non‑alcoholic beverage programs aligned with The Lake’s brand and member preferences.
• Oversee wine cellar operations, cigar storage programs, inventory controls, and beverage sourcing strategies.
• Collaborate with sommeliers, bar leadership, and external partners to create distinctive beverage experiences.

• Develop and manage food and beverage budgets, including revenue forecasting, labor planning and management, cost controls, and inventory management.
• Analyze performance metrics and implement strategies to improve margins,…