Assistant Manager

Lead the Herd at Cotton Patch Cafe!

Since 1989, Cotton Patch Cafe has been dishing up scratch-made comfort food and small-town hospitality from our roots in Nacogdoches, Texas. More than 37 years later, we’re 46 locations strong across Texas and New Mexico, and we’re still hand-breading every Chicken Fried Steak like it’s for our own family. Our $9.99 Texas Value Meals bring big flavor at an honest price, and our guests have noticed: in 2026, The Dallas Morning News readers awarded us three Gold awards for Best Comfort Food, Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant, and Best Chain Restaurant.

Now we’re growing, and we’re looking for leaders with big heart, sharp business sense, and a love for great food and even better people. Sound like you? Pull up a chair.

Why You’ll Love It Here

Your Career Has Room to Grow

• Ongoing leadership development to sharpen your skills
• Real succession planning, because we promote from within
• Multi-level management roles and opportunities across multiple locations and markets

Get Rewarded for Winning

• Competitive base pay
• Profit sharing: when your cafe thrives, you share in the success

Benefits That Have Your Back

• Health, vision, dental, and life insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Short- and long-term disability insurance

A Life Outside the Kitchen

• 10 days of PTO from day one. No waiting period.
• No crack-of-dawn openings. We open at 11 AM daily.
• No midnight closes. We close at 10 PM nightly.
• Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas, so you can spend the holidays with the people you love.

What You’ll Do

Run a Cafe You’re Proud Of

• Own your cafe’s P&L like the business leader you are
• Keep every plate consistent, scratch-made, and Cotton Patch-worthy
• Manage food, labor, and general expenses
• Set the bar high for quality, cleanliness, and safety
• Build a team with a strong work ethic that excels in a fast-paced environment
• Handle employee relations with fairness, care, and clear communication

Make Every Guest Feel Like Family

• Create a warm, lively dining experience guests can’t wait to come back to
• Work the dining room, visit tables, and get to know your regulars by name
• Listen to feedback and use it to keep improving
• Turn concerns into wins with genuine hospitality

Be a Hometown Hero

• Bring true hometown spirit to your cafe
• Get involved in local events, charities, and clubs
• Partner with your local Chamber of Commerce
• Grow catering sales and feed your community beyond our four walls

What You Bring to the Table

• Solid restaurant management experience
• A track record of operational excellence
• A leader’s mindset: you build people up, not just manage them
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Financial savvy and a knack for driving profitability
• A team-first attitude and a strong work ethic
• Strong interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills
• Ability to obtain Alcohol Service Certification and Food Manager Certification
• Ability to work actively in both front and back of house in a fast-paced environment for shifts of up to 10 to 12 hours
• Must be 21 years of age or older
• Must be eligible to work in the United States. All applicants are subject to E-Verify processing, and sponsorship is not available.

Ready to Join the Family?

If you’re ready to lead with heart, serve with pride, and grow your career with a brand that truly loves its people, apply today! We can’t wait to meet you.

Cotton Patch Cafe believes our team should reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of all the guests who visit our cafes. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we do not discriminate against applicants based on race, ethnicity, gender, veteran status, disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Cotton Patch participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States. See the E-Verify Participation Poster: https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/EVerifyParticipationPoster.pdf. See the Right to Work Poster: https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RightToWorkPoster%20Eng_Es.pdf.