Required Years of Experience
2 years
Job Details
THE OPPORTUNITY
Café Mars, an unusual Italian restaurant located in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn, is seeking a Lead Server, with short-term potential for promotion to Floor Manager. We are looking for the highest-caliber, enthusiastic, and kind hospitality professional to join in creating the restaurant and setting the tone to help us lead the restaurant into the future. You will be the most experienced and skilled server on the floor, providing a steady presence and inspiring the other servers to improve--collaborating directly with chef/owner Paul D’Avino to continue to develop and grow the restaurant. The right human being will have a strong hospitality background, a love of wine and cocktails and experience in high-end NYC table service. The Lead Server will be responsible for all aspects of the daily operations and service standards at our restaurant. This individual will be responsible ensuring our guests have a warm, memorable, and fun experience.
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.
Since 2023, we have been recognized by Michelin with a Bib Gourmand, as well as Best Service (NYC) in 2023 and Inspector's favorite visit in NYC in 2024. We are also an OpenTable Icon and Diner's Choice since 2024. 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. 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. Café Mars strives to serve a menu with a fun, thoughtful, and modern take on Italian cuisine.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
- Highly skilled in hospitality, wine service, and cuisine.
- Presents a strong floor presence.
- Works closely with Chef/Owners to ensure restaurant delivers a maximum level of service and satisfaction.
- Ensure excellent service & hospitality is provided to all guests, our community, vendors and staff.
- Oversees the training and monitors the performance of team members. Oversees all hiring, performance management, scheduling, and employee engagement.
- Maintains all aspects of wine program (selections, sourcing, purchasing, inventory)
- Demonstrates strong financial acumen to drive revenue and maintain budgeted profitability.
- Facilitates effective communication throughout the restaurant.
- Creates a motivating environment
REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum six years of food and beverage experience. Minimum one year experience in a leadership role
- Must demonstrate a deep knowledge and passion for wine and food.
- Strong leadership skills. Passion for motivating, educating and empowering the team.
- Self-motivated, open minded and possess a genuine passion for hospitality and service.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships in all directions: ownership, co-workers, team members, and guests while listening and addressing concerns as needed.
- Must possess outstanding organizational, interpersonal skills, and excellent attention to detail.
- An outgoing team player with a positive attitude and problem-solving skills, willing to adapt and learn every day.
As an important member of our team, you’ll have access to:
- Inclusive Healthcare
- Wellness Program
- Retirement Plan option
- Commuter Benefits
- Paid Time Off to support you having an active life outside work
- Yearly Stipend for dining at other restaurants
- 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 ($19.00) plus tips
Benefits & Perks: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Paid Time Off, 401k, Commuter Benefits, Dining Discounts, Wellness Program
Required Skills
Knowledge and Passion for Spirits Cocktails and Beverages
Team Leadership
Love of Food and Excitement About the Restaurant Experience
Collaboration
Knowledge and Interest in Responsibly Farmed Wines, Italian and Ny State Wines
Customer service excellence
General Knowledge of Italian Cuisine and Culture
Mentoring and Coaching
Read more
Gallery
Open Jobs From Café Mars
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, beverage director Jake Riley, and the whole team, 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, 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.
Awards / Distinctions
20252024
20252024
202520242023
