Required Years of Experience
1 year
Job Details
THE OPPORTUNITY
THE OPPORTUNITY
Café Mars, an unusual Italian restaurant located in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn, is seeking cooks , both full and part-time. We are looking for kind, curious, and organized professionals to join our kitchen. At Café Mars, instead of refining our focus to a particular region or time period, we explore the entire universe of Italian food—a telescope, not a microscope. With our feet planted in a deep respect for traditional technique, we are open to new and unexpected ways of making Italian food. To do this, we need cooks that see as much value in folding 1,000 tortellini as in discovering new flavor combinations and techniques. We need cooks that want to get a little bit better every day. We want cooks who want to learn all facets of the restaurant experience. As we value teamwork that spans all of the positions in our space, we will share some FOH responsibilities with the kitchen, and visa versa. No experience is necessary for this component of the work, but an open mind and willingness to learn is! Cooks will be working directly with chef Paul D’Avino during both prep and service for 5 days a week of dinner service.
WHO WE ARE
Opened in May 2023, Café Mars is a unusual Italian restaurant in Gowanus. We aim to be the neighborhood place make locals proud and makes visitors want to become locals. The restaurant will open in a corner space on Third Avenue, across the street from where Paul’s great grandfather first settled in Brooklyn from Campania, Italy. When joining Café Mars, you will become part of a small, tight‐knit team that gives the best we have to offer our guests and each other.
Fun, seasonal and inventive, the menu pays homage to the traditional Italian roots of the neighborhood, while celebrating the chefs’ eclectic backgrounds in the food world. Co-chef/Owner Paul D’Avino’s past includes NYC spots wd~50 and aska as well as long and short stints in Iceland, Denmark, and Japan. Together, they bring a menu with a fun, thoughtful, and modern take on Italian cuisine.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
-
Arrive in a timely manner for the start of your shift with a positive attitude
-
Complete all tasks in a clean, organized, and quality-focused manner
-
Work service with consistent effort, attention, communication, and performance
-
Actively engage in efforts to improve, both individually and as part of the team
-
Communicate kindly and clearly with all team members
-
Interact with guests at dining counter and at tables, running and presenting dishes to guests with supplied and pre-existing knowledge, free of pretension
-
Work closely with coworkers to ensure that the entire restaurant delivers a maximum level of service and satisfaction
-
Ensure excellent service & hospitality is provided to all guests, our community, vendors and staff. We are committed to maintaining a kind and positive environment to every person who enters our space.
REQUIREMENTS
-
Previous experience in high-level kitchens is preferred but not required
-
Must demonstrate a desire for knowledge and passion for cooking
-
Willing and able to do some FOH (running food, learning about wine, etc)
-
Basic knife skills
-
An outgoing team player with a positive attitude and problem-solving skills, willing to adapt and learn every day
-
Outstanding organizational and interpersonal skills
-
Excellent attention to detail
-
Love of learning and commitment to improvement
-
Open to take direction and receive critique in a straightforward manner
-
Respect for ingredients and the people that made them possible
-
Attention and commitment to food safety
As an important member of our team, you’ll have access to:
-
Monthly $500 Healthcare contribution
-
FSA/HSCA/DCSA/COBRA/Commuter Benefits
-
Paid Time Off to support you having an active life outside work
-
Closed on ALL Major Holidays for you to spend quality time with loved ones
We offer a supportive working and learning environment that fosters growth and promotes career advancement, believing that one should always be learning. This is a great opportunity for industry professionals looking to advance their career and have the opportunity to be a part of an opening team. If you are interested in joining a restaurant that values creativity, uniqueness, dedication, hard work and a commitment to genuine hospitality then come and get it!
Compensation Details
Compensation: Hourly ($20.00 - $35.00)
Benefits & Perks: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Paid Time Off, Commuter Benefits
Required Skills
Cooking
Organizational Skills
Ability to Work in a Team
Knowledge and Passion for Italian Cuisine
Willingness to Learn
Teamwork
Customer Service Skills
Communication
Read more
Gallery
Other jobs you might be interested in
Italian, International / Fusion, American, Seasonal
Upscale Casual, Gastro Pub, Fine Dining
Café Mars is an unusual Italian restaurant, nestled in the heart of the historically Italian neighborhood of Gowanus, Brooklyn. Opened in May 2023, chef Paul D’Avino, general manager Jordan Gwiazdowski and beverage director Jake Riley, are looking to honor tradition while expanding the definition of what an Italian restaurant can be.
Steeped in Italian history, Café Mars occupies a former pasta factory and Italian grocer, sitting across the street from the home Paul’s great grandfather lived in, after immigrating to Brooklyn from Campania, Italy in 1901. While Café Mars’ connection to the past is strong, we also tap into the ever-evolving elements of modern Italian culture beyond just gastronomy. Our combined restaurant experience (wd~50, aska, atoboy, uchu, olmsted), travels, and research lend a broad base to deliver a different kind of Italian meal.
Whereas many Italian restaurants tend to use a magnifying glass to zoom in on specific regions and traditions, we instead reach for a telescope. Café Mars looks at the totality of Italian cuisine, gaining inspiration from every region of Italy, and even beyond the boot. From the port cities of North and South America, to the Itameshi cuisine of Japan, the universal love of Italian cooking has seen it travel to every corner of the world, and reinterpreted wherever it went. That’s our Italy. Be it food or drink, our menus shine a light on overlooked classics and unexpected flavors that aim to reframe what it means to go out for Italian.
We are doing it in a kind and fun atmosphere, that still takes a deep approach to food, beverage, and hospitality in very thoughtful and intentional way.
