Server

Cha Chín is part of Éxodo Hospitality Group, a Chicago-based hospitality group bringing together diverse cultures, culinary traditions, and unique dining experiences. Rooted in a celebration of culture, community, and connection, we believe hospitality is about more than great food and service. It's about bringing people together and creating meaningful experiences.

Inspired by the belief that true prosperity is found in the moments we share, Cha Chín celebrates good fortune, community, and togetherness. Our culinary concept brings together Chinese and Peruvian influences, highlighting the ingredients, traditions, and cooking techniques of both cuisines.

Through food, drinks, and genuine hospitality, we strive to create an environment where every guest feels welcomed, valued, and part of something special.

We are seeking experienced, hospitality-driven Servers who understand that exceptional service requires genuine human connection, extensive product knowledge, strong salesmanship, and consistent attention to detail.

The Server is responsible for guiding guests through the complete dining experience, from the initial greeting and menu presentation to the final farewell. This position requires the ability to anticipate needs, personalize interactions, manage service efficiently, and create experiences that encourage guests to return.

Our ideal Server naturally enjoys connecting with people. They are warm, confident, observant, and genuinely interested in learning about guests, recognizing preferences, and making every interaction feel personal. Using guest names naturally, acknowledging special occasions, and building relationships are essential parts of the hospitality experience at Cha Chín.

This is a hospitality-driven, sales-focused position. Servers are expected to develop extensive knowledge of Cha Chín's culinary concept, menus, beverage offerings, dining spaces, and overall guest experience. This knowledge must translate into confident recommendations, effective salesmanship, and consistent contributions to restaurant revenue.

Servers are accountable for working toward established individual and team sales and performance expectations while maintaining guest satisfaction as the priority.

Every guest is our guest, regardless of assigned section. Servers are expected to take shared responsibility for the entire dining room, support teammates beyond their immediate responsibilities, and actively maintain the cleanliness, organization, presentation, and overall integrity of the restaurant.

What You'll Do:

Guest Experience & Personalized Hospitality

• Welcome every guest with genuine warmth, professionalism, and enthusiasm.

• Create a welcoming environment where guests feel recognized, comfortable, and personally cared for.

• Use guest names naturally and appropriately when available, incorporating personal recognition into the dining experience without sounding scripted or forced.

• Demonstrate a genuine interest in connecting with guests, understanding their preferences, and building lasting relationships.

• Recognize returning guests and acknowledge known preferences, celebrations, and special occasions.

• Read the table and adapt communication, recommendations, pacing, and service style to the guest's needs.

• Anticipate guest needs before being asked, including beverage refills, utensils, sharing plates, condiments, and other service details.

• Remain attentive and available without interrupting conversations or making guests feel rushed.

• Deliver consistent hospitality regardless of party size, check average, dining occasion, or service volume.

• Extend the same level of care to guests outside assigned sections.

• Provide a warm, genuine farewell and leave guests with a positive final impression.

Service Execution & Dining Room Standards

• Follow all established Cha Chín steps of service, service sequences, and operational procedures.

• Maintain ownership of assigned tables from greeting through payment and departure.

• Approach tables promptly and ensure guests are acknowledged without unnecessary delays.

• Take accurate food and beverage orders, confirming modifications, dietary restrictions, allergies, and special requests.

• Enter orders accurately and promptly into the POS system.

• Coordinate with the kitchen, bar, and support team to maintain appropriate timing and pacing throughout service.

• Follow proper seat-number etiquette, food and beverage placement, and professional table service techniques.

• Handle glassware, specialty plates, utensils, and service equipment with care.

• Maintain appropriate table settings and remove unnecessary items without disrupting guest comfort.

• Practice continuous table maintenance, including prebussing, clearing, and replacing serviceware as needed.

• Ensure guests have the appropriate utensils, serving pieces, and sharing plates before dishes arrive.

• Monitor the accuracy, quality, and presentation of food and beverages before they reach the table.

• Check back with guests at appropriate moments to confirm satisfaction and address additional needs.

• Present checks accurately and process payments promptly, discreetly, and professionally.

• Maintain clean, organized, and properly stocked service stations.

• Complete assigned opening, closing, and side-work responsibilities according to established procedures.

Product Knowledge, Restaurant Knowledge & Culinary Storytelling

• Develop extensive knowledge of Cha Chín's Chinese-Peruvian culinary concept, including its cultural influences, ingredients, preparation methods, and signature offerings.

• Understand the complete food menu, including flavor profiles, portion sizes, spice levels, pricing, preparation techniques, and recommended combinations.

• Understand which dishes are intended for sharing and confidently guide guests through the appropriate ordering experience.

• Maintain thorough knowledge of cocktails, wine, spirits, nonalcoholic beverages, and food and beverage pairings.

• Understand the restaurant's layout, dining spaces, atmosphere, and available experiences to accurately communicate their value to guests.

• Confidently explain menu items and beverages in an engaging, accurate, and approachable manner.

• Maintain current knowledge of specials, seasonal offerings, menu changes, and unavailable items.

• Understand allergens, dietary considerations, substitutions, and modifications. Never guess when guest safety is involved; verify information with the kitchen or management.

• Share Cha Chín's story and identity naturally, helping guests connect with the restaurant beyond the menu.

• Participate in ongoing menu education, tastings, training, and independent product study.

• Demonstrate the ability to retain and apply product knowledge during actual service.

Salesmanship & Revenue Performance

• Actively drive restaurant sales through extensive product knowledge, confident recommendations, and genuine guest engagement.

• Understand that selling is a fundamental responsibility of the Server position, not an optional part of service.

• Guide guests through the menu with recommendations tailored to their preferences, occasion, appetite, and dining style.

• Confidently recommend appetizers, shared dishes, specialty items, cocktails, wine, nonalcoholic beverages, desserts, and additional courses when appropriate.

• Recognize opportunities to enhance the guest experience through thoughtful suggestions, pairings, and menu presentation.

• Describe dishes and beverages in a compelling manner that communicates their quality, characteristics, and value.

• Proactively introduce featured offerings, specials, and signature experiences.

• Use timing, guest engagement, and knowledge of the dining experience to identify natural opportunities for additional sales.

• Maintain awareness of established sales goals and performance expectations.

• Take personal responsibility for contributing to individual, team, and overall restaurant sales performance.

• Participate in sales training, product education, coaching, and performance development.

• Demonstrate continuous improvement in sales techniques, product knowledge, and guest engagement.

• Balance commercial objectives with genuine hospitality, ensuring recommendations enhance the guest experience rather than create unnecessary pressure.

Team Collaboration & Shared Service Responsibility

• Treat every guest as your guest, regardless of whose section they are seated in.

• Maintain awareness of the entire dining room and recognize when guests or teammates require assistance.

• Respond to guest requests outside assigned sections rather than unnecessarily redirecting guests to another employee.

• Proactively support Servers, Hosts, Food Runners, Bussers, Bartenders, and Managers to maintain efficient service.

• Assist with food running, beverage delivery, water service, prebussing, clearing, resetting, and other service responsibilities throughout the restaurant.

• Step in when a teammate is occupied, overwhelmed, or unavailable.

• Communicate guest requests, allergies, special occasions, service concerns, and important information promptly to the appropriate team members.

• Recognize that effective service requires flexibility and a willingness to perform duties beyond immediate position assignments.

• Maintain awareness of operational priorities and assist wherever appropriate to protect the flow of service.

• Balance shared responsibilities with assigned tables, ensuring that assisting others does not create service gaps.

• Maintain respectful, clear, and professional communication across all departments.

• Contribute to a supportive, accountable, and collaborative team environment.

Cleanliness, Organization & Integrity of the Space

• Take shared ownership of the overall integrity of the restaurant, including its cleanliness, organization, presentation, atmosphere, and readiness for service.

• Maintain awareness of the condition of tables, chairs, floors, service stations, menus, and other guest-facing areas.

• Proactively address spills, clutter, misplaced items, dirty surfaces, and other issues affecting cleanliness, safety, or presentation.

• Assist with prebussing, clearing, resetting, polishing, stocking, and general dining room maintenance, regardless of assigned section.

• Keep service stations clean, organized, and properly stocked throughout the shift.

• Handle delicate dinnerware, glassware, and specialty serving pieces carefully to prevent unnecessary damage.

• Immediately remove and report chipped china, damaged glassware, defective silverware, or unsafe equipment.

• Communicate maintenance concerns, damaged equipment, cleanliness issues, and operational needs to management.

• Complete assigned cleaning and side-work responsibilities while remaining attentive to guest needs.

• Recognize that maintaining the restaurant's appearance and functionality is a shared responsibility rather than the responsibility of any single position.

Guest Recovery, Communication & Accountability

• Remain attentive to signs of dissatisfaction, confusion, delays, or unmet expectations.

• Address guest concerns promptly with empathy, professionalism, and a solutions-oriented approach.

• Listen carefully, acknowledge concerns, and take responsibility for coordinating an appropriate resolution.

• Never dismiss, argue with, or blame guests when addressing service concerns.

• Communicate significant guest concerns to management promptly and follow through as directed.

• Proactively communicate delays, unavailable items, or service adjustments rather than waiting for guests to ask.

• Demonstrate accountability for mistakes, service delays, and assigned responsibilities.

• Remain composed and professional during challenging service situations.

• Accept coaching and feedback with a willingness to improve.

• Maintain clear communication with management and teammates to protect the guest experience.

What We're Looking For:

• Minimum of 3 years of serving experience in a high-volume, upscale casual, fine-dining, or comparable full-service restaurant environment, with demonstrated strength in guest relations, salesmanship, and professional service standards.

• A genuine passion for hospitality and a natural desire to connect with people.

• Strong emotional intelligence and the ability to make guests feel personally recognized and valued.

• Ability to remember and appropriately use guest names, preferences, and special occasions to personalize service.

• Demonstrated ability to drive sales through extensive product knowledge, confident recommendations, and genuine guest engagement, while consistently meeting established service and performance expectations.

• Strong sales instincts and confidence in guiding purchasing decisions and contributing to restaurant revenue.

• Ability and willingness to develop extensive knowledge of the restaurant's menu, beverage program, concept, dining spaces, and guest experiences.

• Understanding that product knowledge, salesmanship, and guest engagement are essential responsibilities of the position.

• Willingness to work toward established individual and team sales and performance expectations.

• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and active-listening skills.

• Strong hospitality instincts and the ability to read a table and anticipate guest needs.

• A team-first mentality and willingness to assist guests and colleagues beyond assigned sections or immediate responsibilities.

• Personal accountability for maintaining the cleanliness, organization, presentation, and overall integrity of the dining room.

• Willingness to participate in food running, prebussing, clearing, resetting, stocking, and general service support as needed.

• Solid understanding of professional restaurant service standards and dining room etiquette.

• Working knowledge of food, beverages, basic wine service, and menu recommendations.

• Ability to learn and confidently communicate detailed menu information, including ingredients, preparation methods, and allergens.

• Ability to manage multiple tables while maintaining attention to detail and guest engagement.

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize guest needs during busy service periods.

• POS proficiency or the ability to learn restaurant technology quickly.

• Professional appearance, positive attitude, and composure under pressure.

• Reliability, punctuality, accountability, and willingness to accept feedback.

• Commitment to upholding all Éxodo Hospitality Group service standards and operational expectations.

• Availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as scheduled.

• Valid Illinois-required food handler and alcohol-service training or certification, as applicable to assigned duties, or ability to obtain them within the legally required timeframe.

Preferred

• 4–5+ years of progressive serving experience in high-volume, upscale casual, or fine-dining restaurants, with a proven ability to deliver exceptional guest experiences, maintain strong sales performance, and consistently uphold elevated service standards.

• Experience serving Chinese, Peruvian, or other Asian-Latin cuisine.

• Strong knowledge of cocktails, wine, spirits, and food pairings.

• Experience with shared-plate dining and coursed service.

• Familiarity with Toast POS and OpenTable.

• Experience recognizing and serving regular guests, VIPs, and special occasions.

• Previous training in professional steps of service, guest recovery, and suggestive selling.

• Bilingual communication skills, particularly English and Spanish.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout a full shift.

• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 30 lbs, with reasonable accommodations where applicable.

• Frequent bending, reaching, carrying, and repetitive movements while navigating a busy dining room.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced restaurant environment with exposure to noise, heat, and crowds.

• Ability to remain attentive, professional, and engaged with guests throughout scheduled shifts.

• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as scheduled.

If you believe every guest deserves your attention, every teammate deserves your support, and every detail of the restaurant contributes to the guest experience, we would love to meet you.

Éxodo Hospitality Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.