Sommelier

Kato has become a destination for fine dining in Los Angeles. Since its inception nearly 10 years ago, chef/owner Jon Yao has offered a menu that pays homage to his roots and identity as a Taiwanese American born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. The flavors are familiar to many while presentation is unexpected, and hospitality is refreshingly sincere. The restaurant has earned and retained a Michelin Star since 2019, while Yao has recently received the distinction of this year’s Young Chef Award from Michelin. Notably in 2024, Kato also topped the Los Angeles Times’ 101 Best Restaurants list, and the year before Yao was selected as one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs, among many other accolades.

Job Summary: The candidate with work with with an expensive beverage program that includes an industry leading NA program, 3000 wine selections, and award winning bar program, the sommelier will provide guests with beverage service throughout the meal. Along with service, they work with a pier and the co-owner to update the wine list, perform inventory, process new arrivals, provide staff with continuous education, and maintain all spaces.

Responsibilities: 

• Maintain food handling procedures outlined by the front of house management team and SafeServe guidelines
• Thorough knowledge of menu descriptions and ingredients of both the tasting menu 
• An unwavering commitment to excellence and hospitality 
• Established and maintain positive relationships with our building employees 
• Using thoughtful creativity to enhance the guests’ experience 
• Understanding of dining room and kitchen operations 
• Implementation of service standards and systems
• Ensure guest satisfaction upon the entrance of our restaurant to their exit
• Checking identification to ensure customers are the legal age to purchase alcohol.
• Handling cash, credit, and debit card transactions, ensuring charges are accurate and returning correct change to patrons, balancing the cash register.
• Available to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Maintaining an incredibly organized work and storage areas with the ability to lift all required products at a minimum of 25lbs. 
• Maintaining a safe and positive work environment 
• Maintaining cleanly personal hygiene in and out of the workplace
• Consistent and punctual attendance

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Conversational English vocabulary
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions and memos
• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Strong team-minded approach to coworkers

Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to handle objects, tools or controls, reach overhead and talk or hear.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus. 

Work Conditions: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts and is regularly exposed to heat. The employee is occasionally exposed to cold.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

This job description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive; it is intended to identify major responsibilities and requirements of the job. The employee in this position may be requested to perform other job-related tasks and responsibilities than those stated above. 

Kato Restaurant is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants due to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, or on the basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.