Prep Cook Job Description At Shellie's Country Café, our Prep Cooks are the behind-the-scenes heroes who keep the kitchen running smoothly. You make sure every dish starts off right by preparing ingredients with care and keeping everything organized and ready for service. If you take pride in staying neat, working efficiently, and being part of a hardworking team, you'll fit right in here! Position Summary The Prep Cook is responsible for preparing ingredients, recipes, and portions to Shellie's standards. You'll support the line cooks by ensuring stations are stocked and ready, food is prepped correctly, and cleanliness is always maintained. This role is essential for keeping our kitchen efficient, safe, and ready to deliver great food fast. Key Responsibilities

• Prep ingredients, sauces, and batters according to recipes and portion guidelines.
• Label, date, and rotate all items to maintain freshness and safety.
• Keep prep area clean, organized, and stocked.
• Maintain cleanliness of walk-ins, freezers, and storage areas.
• Assist line cooks during busy times by restocking or helping plate dishes.
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, and labeling procedures.
• Communicate clearly with the kitchen team about low stock or prep needs.
• Perform end-of-shift cleaning and assist with extra cleaning duties.
• Follow recipes closely and ask questions when unsure.
• Be dependable, focused, and ready to lend a hand wherever needed. What We're Looking For
• Detail-oriented and organized — you like things in their place.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to follow directions and recipes accurately.
• Reliable and punctual with a strong work ethic.
• Able to lift up to 40 lbs. and stand for long periods.
• Prior kitchen experience preferred but not required — we'll train the right person! Living Our Core Values 1.
• Hospitality First
• You may not always see the guest, but the quality of your prep makes their experience shine. 2.
• Accountability
• You take ownership of your prep area and make sure everything is done right. 3.
• Respect
• You treat your teammates, tools, and ingredients with care and pride. 4.
• Progress Over Perfection
• You focus on improving your speed and accuracy every day. 5.
• Teamwork
• You help the line cooks and dish team because everyone's success depends on teamwork. 6.
• Excellence
• You prep with purpose, precision, and pride in every batch. 7.
• Adaptability
• You stay flexible when priorities shift and keep a positive attitude through the rush. 30-Day Success Benchmarks By the end of your first 30 days, you should:
• Know and follow all prep recipes accurately and consistently.
• Keep your station clean, stocked, and labeled at all times.
• Communicate with line cooks about prep needs during service.
• Understand all labeling, rotation, and storage procedures.
• Maintain safe food handling and temperature control practices.
• Be recognized by teammates or managers for reliability and teamwork. Benefits
• Flexible scheduling (days, nights, weekends, holidays).
• Competitiveand negotiable hourly wage based on experience, availability, and certifications.
• Opportunities for raises and advancement through performance and reliability.
• Full time employees are eligible for employer sponsored health insurance benefits at half-cost upon successful completion of probationary period.
• Prep cooks are included in a tip share upon successful completion of probationary period.
• Employee meals and discounts.
• Advanced wage payment with Toast Pay Card, making wages accessible before payday.
• Family environment with local business owners.

Reports To Kitchen Manager or Shift Supervisor. About Us At Shellie's Country Cafe, we're not just a restaurant — we're a family that loves good food, good company, and the kind of small-town hospitality that makes people feel right at home. We're open 24 hours a day because our community doesn't stop — and neither do we. We've been lucky enough to earn some amazing recognition along the way — Best of Helena , Best of Montana , Montana's Best Diner (thank you, Cosmopolitan Magazine! ), and even SBA Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year . But the real reward has always been the people — both the ones who walk through our doors and the ones who make the magic happen behind the scenes. We're everyday people who work hard, learn together, and lift each other up. When you join Shellie's, you're not just getting a job — you're joining a team that becomes family, where everyone's welcome, laughter is part of the job, and progress always beats perfection.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

From $15.00 per hour

Benefits:

Employee discount Flexible schedule Health insurance People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location:

In person