Schedule
Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, FridayRequired Years of Experience
0-1 years
Job Details
We are looking for a dedicated and energetic Dishwasher / Prep Cook to join our back-of-house team. This is a hybrid utility role ideal for someone who takes pride in maintaining a spotless kitchen and wants hands-on culinary experience.
You will manage the dish and sanitation station during service periods while taking on daily food prep responsibilities—such as washing, peeling, chopping vegetables, portioning, and organizing walk-in inventory.
Key ResponsibilitiesDish & Sanitation-
Operate, clean, and maintain the commercial dish machine and 3-compartment sink in accordance with NYC Department of Health sanitation guidelines.
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Wash, sanitize, dry, and organize all kitchen cookware (pots, sheet pans, hotel pans, inserts) and front-of-house dinnerware, glassware, and flatware.
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Monitor dish chemicals, wash/rinse water temperatures, and scraper traps throughout service.
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Keep dish pit, dish staging areas, and kitchen floors clean, dry, and organized.
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Handle trash, compost, and recycling removal, as well as breaking down boxes and sweeping/mopping at station closeout.
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Execute daily prep list tasks under the direction of the Sous Chef and kitchen leadership (e.g., washing produce, peeling, bulk slicing/dicing, portioning proteins and grains).
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Maintain proper FIFO (First In, First Out) labeling, dating, and food storage protocols.
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Assist with receiving food deliveries, verifying orders, and stocking walk-ins, dry storage, and prep stations.
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Follow all standard operating procedures for food safety, personal hygiene, and cross-contamination prevention.
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Experience: 6+ months of dishwashing or kitchen utility experience in a restaurant, cafe, or high-volume food service environment preferred (willing to train candidates with strong work ethic and kitchen awareness).
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Skills: Basic knife skills and familiarity with standard measuring tools are a plus; eagerness to learn knife work and prep techniques is essential.
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Food Safety: Knowledge of basic NYC DOH food safety practices; NYC Food Protection Certificate is a plus (or willingness to obtain).
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Physical Demands: Ability to stand and move for 8+ hours, work in a warm kitchen environment, and lift up to 50 lbs regularly.
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Reliability: Punctual, communicative, detail-oriented, and a supportive team player.
Compensation Details
Compensation: Hourly ($18.00)
Required Skills
Attention to Detail
Time Management
Ability to Follow Instructions
Adaptability in a Fast Paced Environment
Team Collaboration
Problem Solving Skills
Organizational Skills
Commitment to Cleanliness
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Ethiopian, African
Casual Dining
Part of Makina Cafe
Makina Cafe is an established woman-owned Eritrean and Ethiopian hospitality company. We started as a food truck in 2017, added a seasonal stall on Governors Island and a production commissary that supplies all of our concepts plus catering, and in 2025 opened our first full-service brick-and-mortar dining room on Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside/Long Island City - the first Eritrean-Ethiopian restaurant in the famously diverse borough of Queens. The dining room seats 53 and serves dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
Makina's mission is to serve delicious East African food without fear of putting a spin on this time-honored cuisine, and to educate our public about the history and culture behind this revered, long-standing culinary tradition in a welcoming, hospitable environment. Our hospitality is built on the Three R's - Receive, Reverence, Return - and on traditions like the coffee ceremony (jebena buna), gursha, and communal eating.
