Front of House Staff

Job Details

Mercadito is hiring front-of-house and back-of-house team members for both of our Chicago locations: Mercadito River North (108 W. Kinzie St) and our new Mercadito Lincoln Park (2423 N Lincoln Ave, opening April).

Mercadito is an upscale, high-energy Mexican restaurant known for locally sourced ingredients, made-from-scratch execution, and hospitality-driven service. Our menu features bold, authentic flavors—seasonal guacamoles, scratch-made salsas, chef-driven plates, and a tequila-forward cocktail program—served in a lively, high-volume environment.

Hiring Timeline

With the Lincoln Park opening approaching, we plan to begin onboarding team members in March to support Mercadito River North and help build the opening team for Mercadito Lincoln Park.

Positions We’re Hiring Front of House (FOH)

• Servers

• Bartenders

• Hosts

• Bussers / Food Runners / Server Assistants

Back of House (BOH)

• Line Cooks

• Prep Cooks

• Dishwashers / Utility

• Expo / Kitchen Support (as applicable)

(Applicants may be considered for River North, Lincoln Park, or both based on experience and availability.)

Essential Functions (All Roles)

• Deliver a consistently high standard of execution in a fast-paced, high-volume environment

• Maintain professionalism, urgency, and attention to detail throughout each shift

• Communicate clearly with teammates and leadership to support smooth service

• Follow all safety, sanitation, and cleanliness standards

• Work a variety of hours, days, and shifts, including weekends and peak periods

• Stand/walk for the duration of a shift and move safely through all work areas

• Lift/move items up to 10 lbs regularly, up to 25 lbs frequently, and up to 50 lbs occasionally

Key Responsibilities and Duties (Role-Dependent) FOH Responsibilities

• Provide warm, confident hospitality and guide guests through the menu

• Support allergy and dietary accommodations using established procedures

• Follow steps of service, pacing standards, and table maintenance expectations

• Accurately enter orders and process payments using POS systems

• Maintain cleanliness of guest areas, stations, and service tools

• Use menu knowledge and suggestive selling to enhance the guest experience

BOH Responsibilities

• Execute recipes and prep standards with consistency, speed, and cleanliness

• Maintain station organization, mise en place, and proper labeling/storage

• Support service with strong communication, timing, and teamwork

• Follow food safety standards including temperature control, sanitation, and cross-contamination prevention

• Receive, rotate, and store product properly; minimize waste and protect quality

• Maintain clean equipment, work surfaces, and back-of-house areas throughout the shift

Bar-Specific (if applicable)

• Prepare and serve beverages to recipe and presentation standards

• Stock/restock bar areas and maintain cleanliness of stations and glassware

• Follow responsible alcohol service practices and complete alcohol awareness training

Team Standards (All Staff)

• Maintain strong teamwork and communication across FOH and BOH

• Follow all policies and procedures in the Employee Handbook

• Comply with all safety and sanitation guidelines

• Other duties as assigned

Compensation Details

Compensation: Hourly ($12.62) plus tips (tips apply to tipped roles)
Benefits & Perks: Dining discounts

Required Skills (Role-Dependent)

• Strong work ethic and reliability

• Attention to detail and consistency

• Ability to multi-task and stay organized under pressure

• Clear communication and teamwork

• Hospitality mindset (FOH)

• Knife skills / station execution / prep fundamentals (BOH, as applicable)

• POS familiarity (FOH, preferred)

• Food safety and sanitation knowledge (all roles)