Line Cook

About 7323 Chicago Café:

7323 Chicago Café is a one-of-a-kind, community-focused café built from a shipping container in the heart of Woodlawn. We serve high-quality coffee, paninis, wraps, desserts, and are launching an exciting new beverage program this season. 7323 Chicago Café is more than just a place for great coffee and bites; it’s a vibrant hub rooted in culture, creativity, and community. We are a business that serves as a space for connection, conversation, and celebration.

Role Overview:

We’re seeking a dependable, detail-oriented Line Cook to join our small but mighty team. The ideal candidate has experience in food prep, cooking, and back-of-house support, and is comfortable working in both café and catering environments. This role focuses on execution: preparing dishes to standard, maintaining consistency, and supporting the Owner/Chef with café service and catering events. Because we’re a small operation, flexibility, teamwork, and multi-tasking are essential. Just as important: a friendly, guest-focused attitude that helps us maintain the 5-star customer experience our café is known for.

Key Responsibilities:

Food Preparation & Service

• Prepare and cook café menu items (paninis, wraps, bowls, and seasonal specials) according to established recipes and standards.
• Assist in catering preparation, packing, and on-site execution as needed.
• Follow direction from the Owner/Chef to ensure consistency in flavor, quality, and presentation.
• Deliver each dish with care, ensuring the same quality that keeps our café’s 5-star reputation strong.

Kitchen Operations:

• Perform daily prep and restocking to keep service running smoothly.
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, and compliance with health codes at all times.
• Assist with inventory rotation and minimizing waste.

Opening & Closing Duties:

• Opening: turn on kitchen equipment, prep ingredients, and ensure readiness for service.
• Closing: store leftovers properly, clean and sanitize prep/cooking areas, dispose of trash, and power down equipment.
• Restock kitchen items for the following shift.

Flexibility & Teamwork:

• Work in an indoor/outdoor, seasonal café setup — handling weather changes and adapting to different traffic flows.
• Collaborate with the Owner and front-of-house team to provide a seamless guest experience.
• Adapt to seasonal specials, catering orders, and occasional pop-up events.
• Step in where needed to support the success of the café.

Qualifications:

• Prior line cook or kitchen experience (café, restaurant, or catering preferred).
• Ability to follow recipes and execute consistently.
• Strong attention to detail, cleanliness, and food safety.
• Friendly, customer-focused mindset — cares about delivering a great guest experience.
• Ability to multitask and stay calm in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexible availability (weekends and some evenings required for catering).
• Dependable, team-oriented, and self-motivated.

Bonus Skills (Not Required):

• Catering or event prep experience.
• Familiarity with kitchen ordering or inventory systems.
• Chicago-based or strong understanding of the city’s food and cultural scene.

What We Offer

• Competitive hourly pay: $17–22/hr (based on experience).
• One free meal and beverage each shift.
• Flexible, supportive environment with opportunities to learn catering.
• A community-driven workplace where your contributions matter.

How to Apply: Please send your resume and a short note (or video) telling us why you're excited about this role and how you'd support the magic behind 7323 Chicago Café to: [email protected]