Dining Associate - Barista

Fooda; Deerfield (IL); On-site; USD 26,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k with match

Parental leave

Lunch program

Job summary

Fooda, a Chicago-originated company bringing rotating popup restaurants inside offices, seeks a Dining Associate for one of our corporate dining locations. You’ll prepare, cook, and plate menu items to our standards and deliver a warm guest experience in a fast-paced kitchen.

You’ll need ServSafe certification (or willingness to obtain it) and prior line cook or food-service experience. We offer competitive pay, health benefits, a 401(k) match, paid leave, and office meals.

Qualifications

• ServSafe certification required or willing to obtain certification upon hire.
• Prior experience as a line cook, prep cook, or food service worker is preferred.
• Working knowledge of basic cooking techniques, kitchen equipment, and food safety practices.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook, and plate menu items to recipe and presentation standards, ensuring consistent quality and portion control across breakfast, lunch, and grab-and-go service.
• Set up and break down cooking and serving stations, ensuring all equipment, ingredients, and supplies are ready before service.
• Provide friendly, attentive customer service at the serving line, answering guest questions about menu items, ingredients, and allergens.
• Follow all food safety and sanitation standards, including proper handling, temperature monitoring, labeling, and storage per ServSafe and local health codes.
• Maintain quality by monitoring food freshness, appearance, and temperatures, removing items not meeting standards.
• Keep work areas, equipment, and storage spaces clean and organized; perform cleaning duties and dishwashing as assigned.
• Assist with receiving deliveries, rotate stock using FIFO, and communicate inventory needs to the chef or kitchen manager.
• Work collaboratively with the culinary team to ensure smooth, on-time service in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

ServSafe certification

Customer service

Team player

Detail oriented

Stand and lift

Job description

Who We Are:

Our story began in 2011 when a group of office workers at a major logistics company in Chicago had a lunch problem. Nearby options were limited and the team was spending too much time and money traveling to their favorite restaurants. They had an idea: bring Chicago’s local restaurant culture inside the office to sell food. It was an immediate hit. When they discovered people from other companies sneaking into their office, they knew they were on to something.

Who We Are:

Our story began in 2011 when a group of office workers at a major logistics company in Chicago had a lunch problem. Nearby options were limited and the team was spending too much time and money traveling to their favorite restaurants. They had an idea: bring Chicago’s local restaurant culture inside the office to sell food. It was an immediate hit. When they discovered people from other companies sneaking into their office, they knew they were on to something. Fooda pioneered the concept of rotating popup restaurants inside offices. Today, we operate in 45 cities with over 100 million meals served and continue to grow rapidly. Powered by technology and a network of 1500+ restaurants, we feed hungry people at work through a platform of unique food programs located within companies, office buildings, hospitals, schools, distribution centers, and more. At Fooda, we believe a workplace food program should be something employees love and look forward to every day.

Who We Are Looking For:

Fooda is looking for a Dining Associate to join the culinary team at one of our corporate dining locations. In this role, you’ll prepare and serve high-quality food, deliver an exceptional guest experience, and help maintain a clean, safe, and well-organized kitchen. This is a great opportunity for someone who takes pride in their craft, enjoys working in a fast-paced team environment, and wants to grow with a rapidly expanding company that believes workplace dining should be something employees love every day.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Prepare, cook, and plate menu items to recipe and presentation standards, ensuring consistent quality and portion control across breakfast, lunch, and grab-and-go service.
• Set up and break down cooking and serving stations, ensuring all equipment, ingredients, and supplies are ready before service.
• Provide friendly, attentive customer service at the serving line, answering guest questions about menu items, ingredients, and allergens.
• Follow all food safety and sanitation standards, including proper food handling, temperature monitoring, labeling, and storage in line with ServSafe and local health code requirements.
• Maintain quality assurance throughout service by monitoring food freshness, appearance, and holding temperatures, and removing items that do not meet standards.
• Keep work areas, equipment, and storage spaces clean and organized, completing cleaning duties and dishwashing as assigned.
• Assist with receiving deliveries, rotating stock using FIFO, and communicating inventory needs to the chef or kitchen manager.
• Work collaboratively with the culinary team to ensure smooth, on-time service and pitch in wherever needed in a fast-paced environment.

Who You Are:

• ServSafe certified (Food Handler or Food Protection Manager) is required, or willing to obtain certification upon hire.
• Prior experience as a line cook, prep cook, or food service worker is preferred; corporate dining, catering, or high-volume kitchen experience is a plus.
• Working knowledge of basic cooking techniques, kitchen equipment, and food safety and sanitation practices.
• You bring a strong customer-service mindset and enjoy interacting with guests in a professional, friendly manner.
• You take pride in quality and consistency, with a sharp eye for presentation, freshness, and cleanliness.
• You are a dependable team player who communicates well and pitches in wherever needed.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced kitchen where timelines and priorities can shift quickly during peak service.
• You are a problem solver: when something goes sideways, you come up with creative solutions, not excuses.
• You are detail-oriented, know how to prioritize, and work well with minimal supervision.
• Able to stand for extended periods and lift up to 25–50 lbs as part of regular kitchen duties; availability for early morning or daytime weekday shifts.

This role is hands-on and guest-facing, combining quality food production with great hospitality in a fast-paced corporate dining environment. If you love working in a kitchen, take pride in the food you serve, and want to grow with a company that values its culinary teams, this could be the role for you!

What We’ll Hook You Up With:

• Competitive market salary and stock options based on experience - $19/hr - $21/hr
• Comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance plans
• 401k retirement plan with company match
• Paid maternity and parental leave benefits
• Flexible spending accounts
• Company-issued laptop
• Daily subsidized lunch program (ours!) and free food and beverages in the office
• A fulfilling, challenging adventure of a work experience

Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.