Cafe Cook - Prep & Line

Daily Docket Café is seeking a dependable and energetic Café Cook to support our breakfast and lunch operations. This position is responsible for preparing food before service, maintaining stocked hot and cold service areas, and accurately cooking orders for dine-in, takeout, and online guests.

This is a cross-functional position. In addition to kitchen responsibilities, Café Cooks are expected to run completed food orders to guests as needed and cross-train in front-of-house cashier and barista duties during their employment. Team members may rotate between positions based on business needs, scheduling, and training progress.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare ingredients and menu items before service begins to ensure hot-table and cold-table foods are stocked and ready for service.
• Cook breakfast and lunch orders placed by dine-in, takeout, and online guests.
• Prepare food according to established recipes, portion standards, presentation guidelines, and guest modifications.
• Read and accurately complete guest orders within expected service times.
• Run completed food orders from the kitchen to guests as needed.
• Communicate with front-of-house team members to ensure orders are delivered accurately and promptly.
• Operate kitchen equipment safely and properly, including:
  • Grills
  • Burners
  • Flat-top griddles
  • Fryers
  • TurboChef ovens
  • Hot boxes
  • Rotisserie equipment
  • Steam tables
  • Deli and refrigerated preparation tables
  • Coolers and freezers
  • Dishwashing equipment
• Stock and restock food, supplies, utensils, and back-of-house service areas throughout the shift.
• Monitor product levels and communicate preparation or ordering needs to management.
• Properly label, date, store, and rotate all food products using FIFO procedures.
• Inspect products for freshness, quality, proper temperature, and expiration dates.
• Assist with receiving, inspecting, organizing, and putting away vendor deliveries.
• Store delivered products promptly in the appropriate dry-storage, refrigerated, or frozen areas.
• Maintain clean and organized coolers, freezers, shelves, preparation areas, and cooking stations.
• Complete assigned opening, closing, running side-work, and deep-cleaning duties.
• Wash dishes, cookware, utensils, and kitchen equipment as needed.
• Remove trash and maintain clean floors, drains, walls, equipment, and work surfaces.
• Clean and sanitize kitchen equipment according to established procedures.
• Assist with routine equipment care and preventative cleaning.
• Report damaged, unsafe, or malfunctioning equipment to management.
• Follow all company recipes, food-preparation procedures, sanitation standards, and workplace-safety requirements.
• Maintain proper food temperatures and prevent cross-contamination.
• Follow proper handwashing, glove-use, allergen-awareness, and food-storage procedures.
• Participate in cross-training for cashier, barista, and other front-of-house responsibilities.
• Accurately enter orders, process guest transactions, prepare beverages, and assist guests when assigned to a front-of-house position.
• Communicate effectively with cashiers, baristas, kitchen staff, and management.
• Assist other team members and workstations as business needs require.
• Perform other reasonable duties necessary to support café operations.

Qualifications

• Previous restaurant, café, cafeteria, food-service, prep-cook, or line-cook experience is preferred but not required.
• Ability to prepare multiple menu items accurately in a fast-paced kitchen.
• Knowledge of basic food preparation, cooking, sanitation, and food-storage procedures.
• Ability to safely operate commercial kitchen equipment.
• Strong attention to food quality, ticket accuracy, cleanliness, and portion control.
• Friendly and professional communication skills.
• Dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to follow recipes, written procedures, checklists, and manager instructions.
• Ability and willingness to cross-train and work in both back-of-house and front-of-house positions.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a shared team rather than remain at one assigned station.
• Must obtain and maintain a valid Food Handler Certificate that meets all applicable state and local requirements.

Physical Requirements

This position requires the ability to:

• Stand and walk for extended periods.
• Work in hot, cold, wet, and fast-paced kitchen conditions.
• Bend, reach, twist, push, pull, and perform repetitive motions.
• Safely lift and carry food, supplies, trash, and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Carry food and beverages safely through kitchen and guest-service areas.
• Work around hot surfaces, steam, sharp utensils, fryers, cleaning products, and commercial kitchen equipment.
• Maintain an active pace throughout the scheduled shift.

Compensation and Tips

The hourly pay range for this position is $14.00–$16.00 per hour, based on experience and qualifications.

Eligible Café Cooks participate in the same shared tip pool as front-of-house team members. Tips are distributed among participating staff according to the company’s tip-pool policy and hours worked. Tip amounts are not guaranteed and may vary based on sales and guest participation.

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate takes pride in preparing consistent, high-quality food and maintaining a clean and organized kitchen. Successful Café Cooks are dependable, guest-focused, safety-conscious, and willing to support preparation, cooking, food running, stocking, cleaning, dishwashing, cashier, and barista responsibilities as needed.