Bartender

Required Experience: 3 to 4 years in craft cocktail or full-service, high-volume environments

Job Description
Salina is looking for a skilled Bartender to join our beverage team. Our bar is a full-service dining destination, not just a place to grab a drink. Guests at our bar top receive the same complete dining experience as anyone in the dining room. The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of spirits, classic cocktail ratios, and wine, along with a genuine command of our coastal Italian menu. Above all, you can run a high-volume rail while guiding bar guests through a full meal with warmth and polish.

Key Responsibilities

• Beverage Excellence: Prepare and serve consistent, high-quality cocktails, wine, and beer according to our house recipes and standards.
• Full-Service Bar Dining: Serve as the server for every guest seated at the bar. Take food orders, fire and course meals, coordinate timing with the kitchen, and follow through from first greeting to final check.
• Steps of Service: Execute Salina's steps of service at the bar top: prompt greeting and water, beverage order, menu presentation and recommendations, order entry with allergies and modifications noted, coursing, table maintenance (marking, clearing, crumbing), check-backs after each course, dessert and digestivo offering, and a gracious close-out.
• Food & Menu Knowledge: Know the full food menu in detail, including ingredients, preparations, allergens, and daily specials. Confidently guide guests through the menu and suggest wine and cocktail pairings for each course.
• Service Well Management: Efficiently execute drink orders for the entire dining room, prioritizing tickets so floor service is never delayed.
• Prep & Inventory: Assist with house-made syrups, infusions, and garnishes. Perform daily inventory counts and restock bottles and kegs as needed.
• Compliance & Safety: Strictly follow all liquor laws, verify that every guest is of legal age, and monitor alcohol consumption to keep the environment safe.

Skills & Requirements

• Mixology: Mastery of classic cocktails (Negroni, Old Fashioned, Martini, etc.) and proper technique (shaking, stirring, double-straining).
• Product Knowledge: Strong understanding of flavor profiles across spirit categories, craft beer styles, and global wine regions, with Italian wine knowledge a plus.
• Food Service Experience: Proven full-service dining experience, either as a server or a bartender serving full meals at the bar. Comfortable with menu tests and ongoing food and wine training.
• Hospitality: The ability to balance drink prep, food service, guest conversation, and transactions without breaking character.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency with POS systems (Toast preferred) and the ability to manage a complex cash drawer.
• Certifications: Mandatory RBS certification (California Responsible Beverage Service) and a valid California Food Handler Card.