Food Runner/ Server Assistant

Black Briar; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 16,531 - 24,796; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off accrual after 90 days

Paid sick leave

Employee dining benefit

Annual performance review with merit

Job summary

Black Briar in Chicago’s West Loop is seeking a Food Runner / Server Assistant who moves with purpose, knows the menu cold, and keeps the floor running so every plate lands hot and every table stays cared for.

The Food Runner / Server Assistant is the connective tissue between the kitchen and the floor, delivering food accurately and quickly while supporting servers and maintaining a clean, stocked environment.

Qualifications

• Prior restaurant experience preferred; we will train the right person.
• Speed, awareness, and a genuine team-first instinct.
• Illinois Food Handler certification required, or obtained before start date; BASSET if serving alcohol.
• Keep a clean, well-set floor and great attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Deliver food accurately and quickly from pass to table.
• Support servers with drink runs, clearing, crumbing, resets, and water service.
• Read the floor and step in wherever the room needs you.
• Keep tables, stations, and service areas clean and stocked.
• Communicate table needs and timing back to servers and management.
• Reset and re-lay tables between seatings; complete side work and opening/closing procedures.

Skills

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Punctuality

Physical stamina

Food Handler certification

Job description

Company Overview

Black Briar is a Bold American Tavern anchored by an open coal grill, a serious raw bar, and hospitality that feels instinctive rather than choreographed. We are opening in Chicago’s West Loop and building something meant to last — a restaurant with a point of view, a team with standards, and a room worth returning to.

We are looking for a Food Runner / Server Assistant who moves with purpose, knows the menu cold, and keeps the floor running so every plate lands hot and every table stays cared for.

The Role

The Food Runner / Server Assistant is the connective tissue between the kitchen and the floor. You deliver food accurately and quickly, support the servers, and keep tables clean, set, and ready throughout service. You report to the FOH management team. This is a fast, floor-first role built on awareness and teamwork.

What You Own

• Running food from the pass to the table — accurate, hot, and to the right guest
• Knowing the menu and plate presentations well enough to run and describe every dish
• Supporting servers with drink runs, clearing, crumbing, resets, and water service
• Reading the floor and stepping in where the room needs you
• Keeping tables, stations, and service areas clean and stocked throughout service
• Communicating table needs and timing back to servers and management
• Resetting and re-laying tables quickly and correctly between seatings
• Completing side work and full open and close procedures to standard

What We’re Looking For

• Prior restaurant experience preferred — full-service a plus; we will train the right person
• Speed, awareness, and a genuine team-first instinct
• Strong attention to detail and pride in a clean, well-set floor
• Physically able to stand, move, and carry trays throughout a shift
• Reliable, punctual, and ready to work
• Illinois Food Handler certification required, or obtained before start date; BASSET if serving alcohol

The Floor

Black Briar’s dining room runs on live fire and a high standard, at the speed a full house demands. The runner keeps it moving — hot plates to the right seats, clean tables, and servers supported through the rush. It is the best seat in the house to learn the room from the ground up.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hourly wage $12.96 + gratuity participation
• Health benefits
• Paid time off, accruing after 90 days
• Paid sick leave per Illinois law
• Employee dining benefit
• Annual performance review with merit increase opportunity

Who You Are

You do not stand still. You see the table that needs clearing, the plate that is up, the server in the weeds — and you move. You take pride in being the person the floor can count on. You want to learn the room from the ground up and grow into more. If that is you, we want to hear from you.

Black Briar is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects the city we are proud to call home.