ala, the premier location for Levantine Cuisine in the heart of Washington, DC - Dupont Circle, is looking for experienced servers. This is a part time or full time position working evening and weekend Hours.

About us:

We focus on cooking & mixology from the Levant, an area of the world that has a long history and a colorful past. When our guests join us at ala, we want them to feel the overwhelming sense of being one with a variety of colors. From the colors of the ingredients they are enjoying or the cocktails they are sipping to the colorful expressions of each of our team members & guests who surround them, ala provides an experience for everyone who enters.  

The benefits:

• Competitive pay rate  (Minimum $30 per hour guaranteed)
• A clear career pathway - career advancement opportunities
• Paid time off on an accrued basis + additional days based on tenure
• Staff discounts (75% dining discounts)
• Health insurance with generous employer contribution
• Flexible scheduling
• Pre-tax commuter benefits

Ideal candidate, we are looking for:

We are looking for candidates with good interpersonal skills, the ability to multi-task, and who are team-oriented. This individual needs to be truly passionate about food, wine, and spirits. Wine knowledge is preferred. If you enjoy talking to people and thrive in a fast-paced workplace, we’d like to meet you. You’ll be the face of our restaurant and responsible for our guests’ experiences. Your ultimate goal will be to provide high-quality service that will help us maintain and attract customers.

Our perfect candidate has:

• Minimum 5 years experience in a high volume, quality venue.
• Strong leadership skills
• Excellent communication at all levels
• The ability to manage the situation under pressure and make decisions in real-time
• The experience to operate at a high level under the direction of the management team
• Personal maturity to deal with confidential information and/or issues with discretion and sound judgment
• The capability to meet the physical and scheduling demands of the position, including walking, standing, and working nights, weekends, and holidays

Responsibilities:

• Prepare restaurant tables with special attention to sanitation and order
• Attend to customers upon entrance
• Interact with customers to develop loyalty and handle customer concerns; ensure that every guest receives the ala experience
• Present restaurant menus and help customers select food/beverages
• Take and serve food and drink orders
• Answer questions or make recommendations for complementary products
• Collaborate with other restaurant servers and kitchen/bar staff
• Deal with complaints or problems with a positive attitude
• Issue bills and accept payment
• Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters and take them to the kitchen for cleaning
• Clean tables or counters throughout the guest visit and when they have finished their meal
• Prepare tables for meals, including setting up items, such as linens, silverware, and glassware
• Assist host by answering phones, as well as greeting, seating, and thanking guests
• Stock service areas with supplies
• Assist to maintain operations by preparing and enforcing policies and standard operating procedures to increase productivity, maintain quality and patron-service standards
• Performs other restaurant side duties as requested by management and leadership team
• Determine and implement system improvements
• Take part in promotional events
• Assist in maintaining a fun, safe secure, and healthy atmosphere and environment for patrons and staff
• Exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments