Line Cook Cafe Exchange Berkeley Heights, NJ Job Details Full-time $18.50 an hour 3 hours ago Benefits Paid holidays Health insurance 401(k) Paid time off Employee discount Opportunities for advancement Qualifications Recipe adherence Pre-cooking preparation Café experience Attention to detail Kitchen grills Kitchen stations Food preparation equipment operation Full Job Description Café Exchange is a new gathering place coming to The Park in Berkeley Heights, blending culture, coffee, and community in a space designed for connection, conversation, and a little time to unwind. With artisan drinks, fresh pastries, thoughtfully prepared food, live events, and a cozy library-inspired atmosphere, Café Exchange is being built as a place people will want to return to throughout the day. We're looking for a Line Cook who can work a station, stay organized when service picks up, and consistently send out food they're proud to put in front of guests. This is a hands-on role for someone with professional kitchen experience who works with purpose, understands the rhythm of a busy service, and knows that the details matter just as much on the plate as they do throughout the rest of the guest experience. How You'll Make an Impact Prepare and execute menu items according to recipes, portion standards, and presentation expectations. Work assigned stations throughout service, managing prep, cooking, assembly, finishing, and plating with consistency and attention to detail. Set up, stock, and maintain your station so it is fully prepared before and throughout service. Monitor food quality, freshness, temperature, and presentation before items leave the kitchen. Complete daily prep efficiently while anticipating the needs of upcoming service. Maintain proper product rotation, labeling, dating, storage, and portion control while helping minimize waste. Work closely with the culinary and café teams to keep service coordinated and moving smoothly during busy periods. Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary workstation throughout the shift. Support receiving, stocking, and proper storage of food and kitchen supplies. Follow all food safety, sanitation, allergen, and workplace safety standards. Assist with opening, closing, breakdown, and cleaning responsibilities. Jump in where needed to support the kitchen and broader Café Exchange team. What You'll Bring 2+ years of foundational professional cooking experience in a restaurant, café, hotel, or commercial kitchen environment. Hands-on experience with both hot and cold food preparation and working a professional kitchen station. Strong understanding of basic cooking techniques, food preparation, knife skills, and kitchen equipment. Ability to follow recipes and consistently execute portioning, preparation, and presentation standards. Strong organization and the ability to keep your station clean, stocked, and ready for service. An eye for quality and presentation and pride in the food you prepare. Ability to work efficiently and remain composed during busy service periods. Dependability, strong communication, and a team-first approach. Working knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and proper food-handling practices. Ability to stand for extended periods and safely lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 pounds. Availability to work a flexible schedule, including mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed. Supporting Your Success Choice of Company-subsidized medical plan options Generous employer pension contribution Robust paid time off program and paid holidays Meal discounts and additional lifestyle and entertainment perks Career growth opportunities within a dynamic and evolving organization Great hospitality starts long before a plate reaches the table. At Café Exchange, it starts with a kitchen team that cares about the ingredients, the preparation, and getting the details right every time. If you take pride in your craft, enjoy the energy of a busy kitchen, and want to help build a food program people will come back for, we'd love to have you help us bring Café Exchange to life. While we leverage technology to support our recruiting process, every application is personally reviewed by a member of our Human Resources team because we recognize that behind every resume is a person, a career journey, and a genuine interest in joining our organization. Table & Banter Hospitality is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and respected. We make all employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex, pregnancy or breastfeeding, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, liability for military service, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We believe exceptional hospitality begins with exceptional people and are committed to creating a workplace where every team member can thrive. We participate in the federal E-Verify program to confirm employment eligibility for newly hired employees.

Pay:

$18.50 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

401(k) Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Application Question(s): Are you available to work a flexible schedule based on business needs, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays? Briefly describe the kitchen stations you've worked and the types of food or cooking techniques you have experience preparing. Please note that we conduct comprehensive pre-employment background checks as part of the hiring process. Are you comfortable proceeding with this requirement? Ability to

Commute:

Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 (Required)

Work Location:

In person