Senior Specialist Curry Chef

Bombay Story Indian Kitchen & Bar; Wokingham; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Bombay Story Indian Kitchen & Bar in the United Kingdom is seeking a Senior Indian Specialist Curry Chef to lead our curry section and support the Head Chef. You will prepare regional curries, gravies, sauces, and marinades, supervise kitchen staff, and ensure dishes meet our high standards of quality, taste, and presentation.

You will manage stock, food costs, and HACCP compliance while mentoring junior chefs and developing seasonal menu ideas.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of chef experience in a reputable Indian restaurant.
• Strong knowledge of authentic spice blending and traditional cooking methods.
• Excellent communication and team leadership skills.
• Fluent English (first or second language) reading and writing.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen brigade during service, manage pass, ensure plate quality and presentation.
• Prepare regional Indian curries, sauces, gravies, and marinades.
• Operate tandoor for breads and marinated meats.
• Train and supervise junior chefs; manage rotas and labour.
• Maintain HACCP processes and hygiene standards.
• Assist Head Chef with menu planning and cost control.
• Oversee stock, orders, and supplier relations.

Skills

Spice blending

Pan-work

Traditional cooking

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

Level 2 Food Safety Certificate

Basic Food Hygiene

Job description

Overview

Bombay Story is a modern version of a genuine Indian kitchen. A far cry from the traditional curry house, this concept is based on the highest quality Indian street, and home cooked food. Salads, grills and breads feature in a short, but well thought out and versatile all-day menu.

Bombay Story is - Fulfilling, Colorful, Fun, Edgy, Multicultural, Fast, Casual, Global influence, Young, Dynamic and Affordable. We love the idea of people enjoying our dishes without thinking they have sacrificed an ingredient or flavour to conform to the latest health fad.

The Bombay Story team are passionate individuals with big personalities, but most importantly they love service excellence delivered in our own unique, upbeat, and vibrant style.

We are now recruiting a full-time Senior Indian Specialist Curry Chef to join our professional kitchen team. Reporting directly to the Head Chef, the Curry Chef will be expected to prepare Indian culinary delights, sauces and marinades for the curry section, ensuring food is produced to a high standard.

Key Responsibilities

• Service & Pass Management: Lead the kitchen brigade during busy service, run the pass, and ensure every plate matches quality and presentation standards before going to guests.
• Cooking: Prepare a wide range of regional Indian curries, sauces, gravies, and marinades according to restaurant standards.
• Tandoor Operation: Operating clay ovens to prepare authentic breads and marinated meats.
• Team Leadership & Training: Train, mentor, and supervise regional Indian curry dishes and junior chefs, while helping manage rotas and labor efficiency.
• Inventory & Cost Control: Handle stock ordering, supplier relationships, food cost (Gross Profit / GP), stock rotation (FIFO), and wastage tracking.
• Menu & Dish Development: Assist the Head Chef in creating seasonal menus, testing new recipes, and executing daily specials.
• Safety & Hygiene: Enforce food safety, allergen management, COSHH, and Environmental Health Officer (EHO) regulations.

The Role

• Whilst assistance will be provided in the preparation of complex regional Indian curry dishes and accountable for the main preparation and plate presentation of all curry dishes.
• To undertake menu planning in consultation with Head Chef.
• Ensure menus are displayed showing choices.
• Determine quantities to be cooked and size of portions to be served.
• Assisting the Head Chef in maintaining records of stock and orders items as required.
• Ensuring that adequate stocks of food are maintained (fresh, frozen and dried) for the curry section.
• Assist the Head Chef in checking quantity and quality of stock received and notify suppliers of deficiencies.
• Allocate and oversee the work of the junior kitchen staff team including cleaning schedules.
• Ensure HACCP’s processes are followed and recorded as required.
• When required to oversee washing and cleaning of floors, crockery, utensils, work surfaces and other kitchens equipment to ensure that the necessary hygiene and health and safety standards are maintained in the kitchen and dining room as appropriate.
• Assisting the Head Chef to ensure that the food expenditure is kept within budget.
• When required deputies in the absence of the Head Chef.
• To understand responsibilities in relation to fire procedures, health and COSSH, infection control, food hygiene and emergency aid.
• Minimum of five years’ experience as a Chef for a reputable Indian restaurant.

Skills & Competences

• Experience: 5 to 10 years of professional culinary experience in a reputable Indian kitchen.
• Skills: Deep knowledge of authentic spice blending, pan-work, and traditional cooking methods.
• Certificates: Up-to-date Basic Food Hygiene or Level 2 Food Safety Certificate.
• Professionalism and Excellent communication skills
• The ability to form positive relationships with colleagues.
• The ability to build a supportive team where individual skills are recognised and valued.
• Fine dining - Indian restaurant
• Planning
• Experience in the personality department is key!
• A passion for the food industry
• 7+ years previous experience in fast casual high street food brands is preferable

Qualifications and Requirements of the Position

• English as a first or second language (spoken, written and reading)
• Well groomed and presentable
• Discretion and Loyalty
• The ability to multi task
• Excellent timekeeping
• Flexible working hours (incl. working on bank holidays)
• Necessary working permits