Barback / Polisher

Finn & Fire is seeking focused, organized Barbacks to join our opening beverage team. This role is for someone who moves with urgency, takes pride in clean support work, and understands that a strong bar depends on preparation, organization, communication, and disciplined execution. This is also a strong opportunity for someone who is serious about developing into a Bartender. At Finn & Fire, Barbacks will be encouraged to build the speed, product knowledge, service awareness, technical discipline, and foundation required to grow behind the bar. Our beverage program is being built to match a Peruvian Nikkei restaurant with pristine seafood, sushi technique, live-fire cooking, premium meats, bold Peruvian flavors, and the polished energy of a modern steakhouse. The bar will take inspiration from the precision, restraint, cleanliness, and quiet elegance associated with Japanese bartending, while still delivering the pace, warmth, and confidence required in a high-volume modern restaurant. Barbacks at Finn & Fire will play a key role in maintaining the pace, cleanliness, readiness, and discipline of the bar throughout service. Key Responsibilities Support Bartenders, Servers, Managers, and the beverage team in delivering warm, professional, and precise service according to Finn & Fire standards. Maintain a clean, organized, stocked, and service-ready bar at all times. Restock spirits, wine, sake, beer, nonalcoholic beverages, glassware, ice, garnishes, napkins, straws, tools, and service items throughout the shift. Prepare and maintain bar mise en place, including citrus, herbs, garnishes, syrups, juices, batches, glassware, and station setup. Support the bar's standard of precision through clean movement, organized prep, careful handling of product, and attention to detail. Assist with opening and closing duties, polishing, stocking, cleaning, labeling, dating, organizing, and resetting the bar. Support the execution of classic cocktails, signature cocktails, wine, sake, beer, nonalcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, and other bar offerings. Monitor pars, prep levels, freshness, waste, product quality, and bar readiness. Maintain awareness of Bartender needs during high-volume service and anticipate support before being asked. Handle glassware, ice, bottles, kegs, trash, recycling, dish area, and bar storage with care and efficiency. Learn beverage program fundamentals, including spirits, cocktail structure, modifiers, citrus, syrups, bitters, garnishes, glassware, ice, dilution, texture, and presentation. Develop working knowledge of Finn & Fire's beverage style, including Peruvian Nikkei ingredients and flavor profiles such as citrus, ají, tropical fruit, herbs, spice, umami, savory elements, and seafood-friendly pairings. Communicate clearly with Bartenders, Barbacks, Servers, Food Runners, Hosts, Managers, and the culinary team. Move quickly and calmly during high-volume service while maintaining professionalism, cleanliness, and attention to detail. Follow responsible alcohol service standards and uphold sanitation, safety, and cleanliness procedures. Contribute to a disciplined, respectful, focused, and professional opening-team culture. Qualifications Previous experience as a Barback, Busser, Runner, Server Assistant, Prep Cook, or similar high-volume support role preferred. Strong sense of urgency, organization, cleanliness, and team support. Ability to lift, carry, restock, clean, polish, organize, and move efficiently throughout service. Interest in cocktails, spirits, wine, sake, beer, nonalcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, and elevated bar service preferred. Desire to learn proper bar technique, product knowledge, cocktail fundamentals, Japanese-inspired bar discipline, and service standards. Ability to work cleanly, quickly, and consistently under pressure. Strong attention to detail, repetition, preparation, and station readiness. Professional attitude, punctuality, humility, and team-first mentality. Comfortable taking direction, receiving coaching, and refining technique. Interest in Peruvian, Japanese, Nikkei, seafood, steakhouse, cocktail, wine, or fine dining environments preferred. Curious intelligence, coachability, and genuine interest in the craft are required. Growth Opportunity This role is an excellent path for candidates who want to grow into a Bartender position. Barbacks who show consistency, urgency, professionalism, product knowledge, clean technique, and commitment to the craft will have the opportunity to train toward increased beverage responsibility over time. Compensation Competitive hourly rate plus tips, based on experience. Schedule Full-time and part-time positions available. Evening, weekend, and holiday availability required. About Finn & Fire Finn & Fire is a new Peruvian Nikkei restaurant in Alexandria with a strong seafood focus, live-fire influence, premium meats, and a polished steakhouse sensibility. The restaurant is being built with high standards, sharp execution, and a clear culinary point of view. As part of the opening team, this role will help define the restaurant's bar pace, cleanliness, preparation, support culture, professionalism, and beverage identity from day one.